Bizarre: UK man unknowingly buys back his stolen car for Rs 22 lakh

London: A British man ended up buying his own stolen car for Rs 22 lakh after it resurfaced with a new number plate. Ivan Valentine, a 36-year-old software engineer from Solihull in West Midlands, had lost his black Honda Civic to theft in February this year.

Despite filing a police report, officers told him the chances of recovering the vehicle were low. His insurance company later compensated him for the loss, after which he purchased another black Honda Civic for £20,000 (approximately Rs 22 lakh).

However, strange similarities between the new car and his old one soon caught his attention.

According to a media report, Valentine noticed familiar items inside the car — a tent peg, pine needles, and chocolate bar wrappers — that hadn’t been cleaned. The number plate was different, and the odometer showed fewer miles, but suspicions grew.

Upon checking the built-in GPS, he discovered saved locations for his home and parents’ address, confirming his suspicion — he had unknowingly repurchased his own stolen vehicle.

“At first, I felt proud, like I’d won something. But then I realised it wasn’t a good deal,” Valentine said.