Woman's stolen Subaru reappears with apology note, gas money from thief

Erin Hatzi took to Facebook to share images of her red 2001 Subaru Impreza after a thief was caught on camera nabbing it from her driveway in Portland's Woodstock neighborhood. She reported it stolen on Tuesday.

Hatzi told KGW that she and her husband were suspicious of the theft, because it looked like whoever was responsible spent a few minutes warming up the engine or otherwise waiting in the idling car before taking off with it.

"We were really confused, because it didn't seem like the normal actions of a car thief," she told the news station. "You wouldn't think they'd sit there in idle in the owner's driveway for two or three minutes."

The Subaru reappeared on Wednesday in Hatzi's driveway along with $30 in cash and a note.

"I'm not entirely sure where the car spent the evening, but it came back with a nice note and a weird story," she told The Oregonian. "My car had a little adventure."

In the note, a fellow red Subaru owner apologized profusely for accidentally taking Hatzi's car.

"So sorry I stole your car," the note said. "I sent my friend with my key to pick up my red Subaru at 7802 SE Woodstock and she came back with your car. I did not see the car until this morning and I said, 'That is not my car.' There is some cash for gas and I more than apologize for the shock and upset this must have caused you. … So, so sorry for this mistake."

Police told Hatzi that older Subaru keys can sometimes be "interchangeable."

"It's insane," Hatzi told KGW. "It's like a bad sitcom that nobody would ever buy the story, because it's stupid, and it makes no sense. But it happened."