Ewan Valentine just wanted to replace his beloved black 2016 Honda Civic Type R after someone stole it from his driveway in late February. So he dropped £20,000 (about $26,000 USD) on what looked like the perfect match…a similar model he found 70 miles away. But shortly after driving it home, he realized something wild: He had just bought his own stolen car.

“It was sort of a mid-life crisis car,” said the 36-year-old from Solihull, England. “You don’t get many of those, so I was pretty determined to get it replaced.”

The replacement Civic Type R checked every box. Same year, same color, same “slightly obnoxious exhaust system.” But then he spotted details that felt oddly familiar. A single tent peg. Some pine needles. A few candy wrappers. He started to wonder if it wasn’t just a similar car.

Then came the real clue: The Civic Type R’s navigation system still had his and his parents’ addresses saved

“I nearly crashed, to be honest, because I was in shock,” he told the BBC. “My hands were shaking; my heart was pounding.”

Valentine took the car to a Honda garage. A mechanic pulled the blade from Valentine’s old smart key, slipped it into the door, and unlocked it. “Yes, it’s your car,” he said.

Thieves had replaced the number plates, rolled back the mileage, and swapped out the VIN. But they missed a few personal touches. Police believe the seller likely had no idea, either.

Valentine now hopes to get his money and deposit back. He credits a tent peg, some trash, and the Civic’s GPS history for helping him crack the case.