A frantic call about a stolen Camaro led to a quick recovery—but no criminal charges—after what appears to have been a case of blurred boundaries, fuzzy memories, and an exasperated boyfriend.
The Timeline
At 5:30 p.m. Monday, Portsmouth Police were contacted by a man reporting that his Camaro had been stolen by his live-in girlfriend. Within 20 minutes, the Ohio State Highway Patrol located the vehicle in New Boston and pulled it over.
👩❤️ More Complicated Than It Seemed
The man told officers that the woman had permission to drive the car earlier in the week as part of preparing for a planned trip to Las Vegas, but claimed she did not have permission today. He had even discussed a similar incident with an officer earlier in the month and was warned about allowing her to drive the car again.
But when troopers questioned the woman, she insisted he gave her permission that afternoon, saying they’d even driven to Huntington together just the day before. She also mentioned the man has been having memory issues.
When police circled back to the Camaro’s owner and relayed the woman’s version of events, he admitted, “I’m getting old,” and confirmed that yes, they had driven to Huntington together and that she had, in fact, had permission.
Why No Charges?
Because both parties acknowledged shared use of the vehicle, and the man ultimately couldn’t say for sure if he had revoked permission, police determined there were no grounds to charge the woman with unauthorized use.
Instead, officers gave the man a final warning: if letting her drive is going to lead to police involvement every time, just stop letting her drive the car.
The Twist: She Was Still Arrested
Although not charged with stealing the car, the woman was taken into custody by OSP on unrelated charges. The Camaro was returned to the man at the scene.
When Love and Camaros Collide
If someone has regular permission to use your vehicle, proving “unauthorized use” becomes tricky.
Be careful about reporting a theft if your memory is fuzzy or there’s a shared history of vehicle use.
If you’re heading to Vegas with someone you can’t trust with your car, maybe rethink the trip.
