Baffled: Gary Crawford came outside to find his VW Polo GTi car had been stolen from his driveway
A man's car was stolen from his driveway while he was in the middle of washing it.
Gary Crawford, 25, was giving his prized VW Polo GTi a good clean and briefly popped back into his house to get a bag for his vacuum cleaner.
But when he returned just minutes later he was mortified to find his car was gone.
The gas terminal worker had also left his wallet, keys and sunglasses inside the white sports model which he bought just six months ago for for ?18,500.
Gary, from Rosehearty in Scotland, said he did not hear the engine being turned on over the sound of his washing machine running.
Theft: The car was stolen when he popped inside to grab something
Luckily, police have discovered the car, which has the distinctive private registration plate Y444GAR, in nearby Gardenstown.
Gary said:"I was just completely shocked by it.
"One minute my car was there and then the next I was staring at an empty driveway.
"I must have only been inside for a few minutes when it vanished.
"The washing machine was on and my dog wasn't barking so I couldn't hear the engine starting.
"I've lived here for 25 years.
"It's such a nice, quiet place.
"You wouldn't think that someone would be lurking around your house waiting to steal your car."
Over 300 people shared a picture of Gary's car on social media in an appeal for it to be tracked down.
Found: After an appeal on Facebook the car was retrieved not too far away
Earlier this year police officers launched a crackdown on car-related crime after a spate of thefts across the north-east of Scotland.
Plans are also in place to send officers on specific car theft training courses.
A police spokeswoman said: "The car was recovered in the Gardenstown area on Tuesday.
"The incident was reported between 10 and 11 on Tuesday morning.
"Enquiries are ongoing."
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