Good Samaritan's stolen SUV found
SUV stolen in St. Albert as owner was helping another driver in need
The Alberta Good Samaritan whose SUV was stolen while she stopped to help another driver says her vehicle has been found.
Renee Arcand told CBC News her grey 2012 Infiniti QX56 was found in a parkade at the University of Alberta in Edmonton Wednesday night.
"There was a message on my phone last night," she said, "saying that the police had found it and it was being brought to the seizure lot."
She plans to pick up her SUV this morning and has been told the exterior appears to be in good shape.
"According to the officer I spoke to on the phone, to him it looked like it was undamaged," Arcand said. "They don't have access to the interior yet, because the vehicle was left locked."
Arcand was driving along Herbert Road in St. Albert on Monday morning when she saw a car swerve out of control and cross the median.
She stopped, turned her engine off and ran over to help. While she was distracted, a thief climbed behind the wheel, started it up and drove away.
Arcand left her keys, purse and some groceries in the vehicle while she went to help. It turned out the man, who looked to be in his 60s, was a diabetic with low blood sugar.
After helping the man as best she could, Arcand called the Alberta Motor Association for a tow truck. Then she turned to go back to her vehicle, thinking she would get some yogurt for the man.
She saw her vehicle driving away.
Arcand quickly called to cancel her credit cards but learned the thief had already used one card at a local store.
"I'm relieved," she said. "But it's going to feel strange getting in my car, knowing that someone else was in there."
The SUV will have to be towed to the dealership for inspection. The locks and the ignition will have to be changed, because the thief still has her keys.
"There'll be some substantial costs involved. But not much I can do about it now."