Couple drives wrong car home: 'Never seen a case like this before'
ONTARIO, Ore., (KBOI) - A vehicle reported to local police as stolen was found several days later at the home of a couple who accidentally took the wrong car from an eastern Oregon grocery store parking lot.
Ontario Police chief Mark Alexander says an elderly driver parked a white 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass at the Red Apple parking lot Sunday evening and left the keys inside.
Some time later, an elderly couple mistakenly got inside the Cutlass, Alexander said, and took the vehicle home. The owner of the Cutlass filed a stolen vehicle report with Ontario PD.
On Wednesday, police received a phone call from employees at the Red Apple grocery store complaining about a white 1993 Chrysler LeBaron that had been left in the parking lot for several days. When officers arrived, they ran the license plate and traced it to the couple.
"When we called them we asked them why their vehicle was left in the parking lot," Alexander said.
The couple told police that their vehicle wasn't at Red Apple, and insisted it was parked at their home. When officers went to the couple's home, however, police realized what had happened.
"It was probably a little embarrassing for them," Alexander said.
Police organized a vehicle exchange. No charges were filed.
"Everyone was just happy to have their cars back," he said. "Never seen a case like this before."
Ontario Police chief Mark Alexander says an elderly driver parked a white 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass at the Red Apple parking lot Sunday evening and left the keys inside.
Some time later, an elderly couple mistakenly got inside the Cutlass, Alexander said, and took the vehicle home. The owner of the Cutlass filed a stolen vehicle report with Ontario PD.
On Wednesday, police received a phone call from employees at the Red Apple grocery store complaining about a white 1993 Chrysler LeBaron that had been left in the parking lot for several days. When officers arrived, they ran the license plate and traced it to the couple.
"When we called them we asked them why their vehicle was left in the parking lot," Alexander said.
The couple told police that their vehicle wasn't at Red Apple, and insisted it was parked at their home. When officers went to the couple's home, however, police realized what had happened.
"It was probably a little embarrassing for them," Alexander said.
Police organized a vehicle exchange. No charges were filed.
"Everyone was just happy to have their cars back," he said. "Never seen a case like this before."
I have heard of something similar before.  A teenage boy went to get a silver dollar for his brother's toothfairy visit. He drove his mom's car there, and someone else's same model car home - using his MOTHER'S car key. once it was all figured out - no charges were filed and it went in the "strange but true" file.
When I was enrolling for college, I parked my car outside the admin building. When I left, I got unlocked the door of my car, got inside, started it up and put it in reverse when I noticed a set of fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror. I didn't put fuzzy dice in my car.
It wasn't my car. Same color, make and model. Same upholstery. Obviously the same key fit both.
I turned off the ignition, got out, locked and shut the door, and got into my car...the next one over, hoping no one had noticed.
Btw, that was a white 1964 Impala 4-door. I bought it in 1979 for $400 and drove it for the next 20 years. A good deal I think.
Can you imagine living in a place where you could leave your keys in the car??? I wonder how they got in their house though
@Susabelle -Although I sympathize with your B-I-L's grandfather's need for independence, I thought there are laws that require one to retake the driving test after so many years. There comes a time when you have to evaluate a person's capacity to drive. Whether matters are forced by the local authorities, or by the family of the elder person, it should be done. They probably were an excellent driver at one time, and unfortunately they cannot handle driving at full capacity any longer. I don't feel that age is an indicator of ability. Vision, speed of reaction, awareness of surroundings, mental acuity, and good judgment all play a factor in one's ability to drive. Unfortunately, I read recently of an elderly woman (not to pick on her age, but she WAS elderly) plowed through a building - from the parking lot she was trying to park in I think -into an Insurance company office and killed a younger woman who was at work in the wrong place and time that day. I cannot imagine the grief for both the younger woman's family - AND the older one from that tragedy, but it could have been prevented. We need to ensure elder drivers are reevaluated every few years to ensure they are still "capable" drivers. For all our sakes, as well as their own.
I've tried to get in a stranger's car in a parking lot a few times... (Although it was most likely wishful thinking as the strangers cars were usually nicer than mine.)
I drive a very common vehicle and I always use my panic alarm to find MY car. It's just easier that way :)
I'm not nearly that age, but I think there have been about five times that I mistakenly tried the door on a car remarkably similar to mine, but parked two stalls away. Â Fortunately, my "smart key" is smarter than I am. :-)
Senility is not the problem of the aged, it's everyone else's. Ask my grand kids.
Both cars were white. Both parties were elderly. It can happen. It was just a mix up and it was solved and made right. I have 3 grandparents one of which will be 90 and all still drive and are very good drivers. I say if they can drive and do it safely let them. The still need their freedom and independance.Â
@Seattlesound2012 The pic shows a blue car and a white car..Not even close in appearance..hmmm.
 @Molly B Deen   Both the cars were white. Reread the story. The cars in the photo are not the actually vehicles involved in the mix up. Some lazy photo intern pulled these images from Wiki and thought it was okay to show a blue Chrysler instead of white.
 @MyTacoma  @Molly B Deen Ten minutes at the Walmart parking lot would have netted each of those cars in every color they were made in in '92 and '93.
 @MyTacoma  @Molly B Deen And yet it seems like when anyone else drives my car it takes me 5 minutes to get it adjusted back to what feels right. Amazing how they just rolled with the punches (and appear to both leave their keys in the car regularly).
My daughter went to visit her great Aunt in the retirement home. They went out to lunch and the Aunt drove as my daughters car was a Vw beetle and not roomy enough. All went pretty well until Aunty pulled up to some cars and stopped. My daughter said, "why are you stopping" and got the reply "well I am just waiting for the light to turn green. She had stopped behind some parked cars. Luckily she agreed to give up driving not long after that.
 @dreaminwa Hey, at least she stopped behind the parked cars rather than mowing through them! :^D
Glad nothing happened before she gave up the keys. Â I know it's one of the hardest of life's milestones both for the freedom and independence those keys represent, and the actual freedom of being able to drive when and where you want.Â
These cars are so different, this barely makes sence...
 @teahater I think it is lousy reporting by KBOI to post misleading photos. As has already been brought up, the cars shown are NOT the actual cars. Why would they even show photos if they couldn't show the exact cars? The next best thing would have been to post photos that more closely matched the cars involved. We know that both cars were white in color but we have to assume that they were both 4-door sedans (I'm assuming that they were). They may have had other features that were similar ...i.e. similar wheel covers, cladding, roof trim, etc. Maybe they were both exceptionally dirty or exceptionally clean, etc., etc.
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However, I do agree that once inside, how could the driver, even though elderly, not know that the dash board, steering wheel, gauges, etc. were not what he was used to? The story would make more sense if the cars were the same make and model.Â
 @mandy h  @teahater I was thinking that, too, how did both people not notice how the seat felt, how swinging the doors open and closed felt, how much his legs stretched to reach the pedals, how the car responded (accelerating, braking, steering, etc), the view out the windshield, mirrors adjusted, seat belts, etc.?
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As to the photos, taking two seconds to clarify in the cutline that these aren't the actual vehicles the couple mixed up and that the real ones were at least the same color would have been a good move.Â
 @teahater 'sence' makes no sense, either
I went into the wrong tenement when I visited my parents in NYC. And I actually grew up in that tenement. Everything looks the same, inside and outside. What gave it away was when I called my parents in the apt and the phone didn't ring loud on the other side.
My daughter unloaded all her groceries into the wrong SUV, then went around and got in and realized that it wasn't her car, too clean. She then stood outside and took all the groceries out of the SUV looking both ways worried that someone would see her "stealing" from someones car. Small town, who locks their car? I on the other hand have never done that.....well there was that one time I put the groceries in the back seat of my crew cab and then got into the truck beside them, realized what I had done and sat there for a couple of minutes untill the parking lot was clear, got out, got in front and drove home giggling.
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 @whitewings2003 Cell phones really save us from being involuntarily committed sometimes, such as when you're suddenly reminded of something hilarious a friend said or did but you're alone so you need an excuse (fake phone call) to be laughing like a maniac.
But this is a new and very original need for a rescue fake conversation, so kudos! :^D
My Brother in Law's grandfather was still driving at 104, he had already run over his wife twice (both times in his driveway). The grandsons started flanking him to protect the public when he got behind the wheel because they couldnt get anyone to pull his license.Â
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Although, I have tried to get into the wrong car before, but fortunately my keys didnt work and I figured it out.Â
@Susabelle -Although I sympathize with your B-I-L's grandfather's need for independence, I thought there are laws that require one to retake the driving test after so many years. There comes a time when you have to evaluate a person's capacity to drive. Whether matters are forced by the local authorities, or by the family of the elder person, it should be done. They probably were an excellent driver at one time, and unfortunately they cannot handle driving at full capacity any longer. I don't feel that age is an indicator of ability. Vision, speed of reaction, awareness of surroundings, mental acuity, and good judgment all play a factor in one's ability to drive. Unfortunately, I read recently of an elderly woman (not to pick on her age, but she WAS elderly) plowed through a building - from the parking lot she was trying to park in I think -into an Insurance company office and killed a younger woman who was at work in the wrong place and time that day. I cannot imagine the grief for both the younger woman's family - AND the older one from that tragedy, but it could have been prevented. We need to ensure elder drivers are reevaluated every few years to ensure they are still "capable" drivers. For all our sakes, as well as their own.Â
 @E Frick  @Susabelle 20 years ago it was not as easy, they tried to have the license revoked. That is why the grandson's would follow on all sides when they could. The laws have changed since then, I also had a friend in NC that worked for months trying to get her father's license revoked, took over a year. It is not as easy as you'd think.... I certainly agree that age is not the determining factor, but there plenty of hoops to jump through to get to the point of revoking someones license.
 @Susabelle Nearly 90 years of driving, not sure if "already" fits for running her over twice... ^DÂ
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In Seattle they would have been arrested, they only let violent robbers, rapists,murderers, {PIMPS} out of jail free They decided to switch and put more law abiding away.
 @Wong flu Poo not just arrested .. but likely invaded by SWAT and shot to death.
And these folks still have their license and are allowed to drive... Why?
But if they used the keys found in the wrong car, how did they get in their house?
 @MargeGunderson Husband has the car keys and wife has the house key. I don't know about you but everyone living in my house has their own key. :)
 @PrairieDawn Look, if you're going to get things all muddled up with logic and common sense, I refuse to engage in debate with you! :^D
Does this mean there is no appreciable difference between a Cutlass and a LeBaron?
 @Willow When you need glasses as thick as the lenses on the Hubble Telescope it might be hard to tell them apart. "It had four wheels and was the same color so I thought it was mine."
Different age groups; different errors. It is all due to the brain's development and eventual decay. Both groups, elderly and teens, are unsafe in different ways for different reasons. A few years ago an elderly man living in an assisted living facility was allowed to bring his car to "sit" in the parking lot. Then when he started driving it, his family insisted it was OK as all he was going to do was drive "a few blocks" to his house he still owned. That all changed when he killed that young teacher in a wrong-way freeway crash north of Marysville about 6 years ago.
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And, for the record, I am well aware there are unsafe drivers of all ages; it's just that these two groups are more likely to make errors of judgement without being drunk or high. I suppose if you took a 92 year old who was drinking, then drove, that might be the worst.Â
I was hoping the story would end with the drivers licenses being taken away from the couple that drove the wrong car home.
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I mean, if they can't even remember which car they drive, how can we expect them to remember how to follow all of the rest of the laws of the road? Â
Sucks getting old, I know, I am getting close. I hope I can keep remembering where I work at.
 @Crimsonkid I've always joked that if my key still fits in the door I must be doing OK at my job. Now you have me picturing showing up at the entirely wrong place of employment, key not working, and sadly driving home (hopefully in the correct vehicle...)
I'm kinda surprised that the elderly couple didn't call in an odd looking vehicle in their driveway. (Looks like a ROBOT)
Something similar happened to me.
I went into Home Depot and when I came out I went to what I thought was my car. It was identical except there was a dog in it. I thought who put the dog in my car. When the key didn't fit I realized my car was one row away.
But these two cars are totally different makes and models. I can't see how the key would still work.
 @mstipton They keys were left in the 'stolen' car, so yeah.
When I was stationed in Great Falls MT during the winter it was brutally cold. Just before getting off a 12 hour night shift I went out to start my SUV to get it thawed out. Much to my surprise there my car was ALREADY RUNNING. I was so tired that all I could do was sit there and stare at it and at my keys that were still in my hand. I didn't know what to do.
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So I went and sat in my car until I saw 2 people somewhat arguing in the parking lot. Apparently this guy sent a coworker out to start his Ford Explorer and that coworker mistook MY Ford Explorer for his coworkers. I still had his keys so I walked up and handed them over. Just for sh**s and giggles we tried my keys in his car and sure enough they unlocked the door and started it right up.
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Hey, I couldn't complain though. At least my car was toasty warm for me!
 @Tattooed_Angel Back in the 1990s, I used to work on old 1970s Datsun and Toyotas. Their key cylinders were so worn out, I had one key that would work on about 3 out of every 10 cars that I worked on. I had my own Datsun truck and Toyota Celica for a while, and I used the same key on both cars.Â
 @KH  @Tattooed_Angel My ex had a Forerunner back then and found out his key would open any of them he tried.........
 @Susabelle Sorry for the delayed response; I was frantically pulling all of the shades down and re-parking my vehicle down the road aways...  :^D
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Yep, we do, I lurk a lot and sometimes weeks between comments on a site although I've been there nearly daily.Â
 @MargeGunderson LOL, I wont put you on my stalker list, LOL. I'm alive and well, have been here but have been pretty quite and lurking in the background, is lurking like stalking? Perhaps we have something in common?
 @Susabelle Hey, glad you're still around! Hadn't seen you in awhile and worried a bit. Was about to randomly reply to an old comment to check. :(not at all in a creepy stalker kind of way, don't worry! :^D )
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By the way, that's why several of those early 90s Hondas and Toyotas are on the top 10 most stolen list â because the money-grubbing manufacturers made only five different keys for a few million vehicles.
A mall lot or park and ride, maybe five minutes to find one that key you have (probably also illegally acquired) fits.Â
 @Tattooed_Angel Many years ago, I parked my (first) brand new vehicle in a nearly empty grocery store lot, late at night, not the best part of town.
Came out to see about a dozen guys in gang attire, sitting on the hood, standing in the pickup bed, sitting in driver's and passenger seats with both doors open, etc. all looking and smirking toward the store like they were waiting for me.Â
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Being young, stupid and protective of my first ever decent vehicle for which I hadn't even received the payment book yet, I went barreling up starting to yell at them. When I got close, I stopped in mid-yell as I discovered my truck sitting right where I'd parked it on the end spot, and their identical one sitting right next to/in front of it, not in an actual spot.Â
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They were laughing their azzes off at me, needless to say, but a few did mention what a bravely crazy b- - - - I must've been to just charge at them all when so grossly outnumbered and being rather puny anyway.Â
It was an unusual color, especially for that part of the country; I guess when they saw mine sitting there they just saw an opportunity to have a little fun, fortunately for me, harmless fun. :^D
Oh this is great...
To the Insurance Company:
Uh, I left my keys in the car. Â Ok, I left my keys in the ignition in the car. Â Alright, I left my keys in the ignition in the car
and left the car unlocked. Â
Now really, who looks more out of it here? Â The elderly couple or the guy who left his keys in the ignition in his
unlocked car? Â Only in rural America can both parties get away with this with no harm done.
Great, great story....
I did this once. Was in Yakima and had a Buick and parked in the same block 4 carts away was another Green Buick identical to mine. My key fit the door and ignition and thought nothing of it until a couple of hours later wnet to trunk and discovered nothing of mine was there. I was lucky went back to spot where I was parked and my Buick was still there. Parked wrong car and drove off in mine. Wieerd
 @Grandpa36 Funny story. And unlike this news article, your story is believable, because at least the were the same make, model and color of car!Â