Stafford County car thief takes (and returns) same car ... twice

STAFFORD, Va. — In a bizarre and confounding crime spree, a Stafford County car thief seems to have formed an unusual attachment to a car he just couldn't stay away from. This peculiar incident, unfolding over several days, has left both law enforcement and the car's owner scratching their heads.

It all started on Sunday just after 9:30 p.m. when a deputy with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office responded to a missing vehicle report on Castlebury Court. The victim, who owns a Honda Insight, was perplexed to find that his car had disappeared without a trace. The vehicle was immediately reported stolen and entered into a law enforcement database.

Then, the mystery deepened. Just hours later, on Monday morning, the deputy returned to the same home, but this time the car had mysteriously reappeared in the exact spot from which it had been taken. Oddly, nothing appeared to have been stolen from the car, and it was swiftly removed from the stolen vehicle list.

But the story doesn’t end there.

On Tuesday just after 3 a.m., the deputy responded to yet another call at the same address. The victim reported that his Honda had been stolen once again—this time around 2 a.m. But, in a strange twist of fate, the thief returned the vehicle an hour later, leading to a foot chase between the car's owner and the suspect. The chase ended on Fair Oaks Avenue, where the victim lost sight of the thief.

Once again, nothing had been stolen from the vehicle, adding to the confusion surrounding the repeated thefts and returns.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating this unusual case and seeking any information from the public. Anyone with knowledge of the theft is encouraged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4450.