The Incredible Tale of a Honda Civic Type R: Stolen and Then “Sold Back” to its Original Owner.

In a personal account shared on Instagram, Ewan Valentine recounted that in February 2025, his beloved Honda Civic Type R, which he had owned for three years, was stolen from outside his home. The car, modified with a Remus exhaust system, was often parked in a quiet suburban area without surveillance cameras. The only evidence he could provide to the police was blurry footage from a neighbor’s doorbell camera, and the chances of recovering the car were slim.

After receiving compensation from his insurance company, Valentine decided to look for another Civic Type R. The search took about three weeks, and eventually, he found a car of the same color and model at a local garage. Interestingly, this car also had a Remus exhaust system, just like his stolen vehicle.

Despite his doubts and considerations about checking the VIN number, he dismissed the idea due to the different odometer readings. Trusting the dealership’s reputation, Valentine proceeded with the purchase, unaware of the surprise that awaited him.

As soon as he brought the car home, Valentine started noticing “eerie coincidences.” The trunk of this Honda Civic Type R contained an old tent peg and a few pine needles from the previous Christmas, identical to those in his old car. Even the wheel lock was kept in a Tesco sandwich bag, the same type of bag he had used before.

His suspicions grew when the car’s navigation system suddenly displayed familiar addresses: his home, his parents’ house, and his in-laws’ house.

Ewan Valentine’s phone instantly connected to the car’s Bluetooth without pairing, and the data also included his girlfriend’s device and their old phones. To confirm his suspicions, Valentine took the car to a local Honda service center, where technicians connected to the ECU and quickly confirmed that the original VIN number matched that of his stolen Civic Type R.

After a three-week search, Valentine had unknowingly bought back his own stolen car.

Valentine doesn’t believe that the seller or the car-finding platform was aware that the car was stolen, so he chose not to disclose their names. He thinks they were also victims of a chain of resellers and that finding his car was an “incredible coincidence.”

Regarding the criminal investigation, Valentine told Road & Track, “There haven’t been any arrests, and the case is currently on hold.”

Now, he faces a unique situation with his insurance company. After compensating him for the theft, they must navigate a rare legal scenario where the original owner inadvertently repurchased the insured property. Valentine shared that the insurance company’s handling of the situation has been slow, and they are unsure of the next steps.

For now, Valentine has to wait a few more weeks to regain ownership of his Honda Civic Type R. In the meantime, he is using his wife’s 2007 Honda Civic Type S.

TH (Tuoitrethudo)