It’s said that cars in Haines aren’t stolen, they’re just misplaced.
That proved true July 30 when Karl Thomsen’s emerald green 1994 Chevy truck disappeared from the Haines ferry terminal. Thomsen, a terminal agent, reported to police the rig was missing from a spot next to the building shortly after the second docking of the ferry Fairweather.
A truck matching the description of Thomsen’s was located about an hour later at the Eagle’s Nest Motel, where Juneau residents Mike Stewart and George and Bo Damien were moving in to play in the state fair softball tournament.
When Haines Police sergeant Jason Joel pulled up, Stewart was sure police were mistaken. “I told him, ‘Officer, we have Mark Sebens’ permission to use his truck,’ Stewart recounted this week. “He said, ‘That’s all well and fine, but this isn’t his truck.’”
In the unraveling this week, Sebens said he had told Stewart to pick up a maroon 1991 Ford with a big diesel pump in the back. Stewart said Sebens’ description may have gotten lost in the bustle on arrival.
Stewart said he ducked into the terminal restroom and when he came out, the Damiens were loading their gear into a truck.
“I hate to throw them under the bus, because I’m the elder statesman. I’m 51. I should have known better. The only thing I thought was, ‘Oh cool, they found it.’ In hindsight, it’s so stupid. In a small town, a lot of people leave the keys in their cars.”
Stewart said they apologized to Thomsen profusely. “He looked pretty disgruntled. I can’t say that I blame him. I felt awful.”
Thomsen said this week he probably shouldn’t leave his keys in his car “if we have people who don’t know the difference between green and purple.” Thomsen also returned Stewart’s prized-possession, a Detroit Red Wings jacket left in the truck when it was returned to him.
Thomsen advised that residents leaving cars at the terminal for others to pick up can leave keys with desk personnel at the terminal.
The incident is reminiscent of one about 10 years ago involving identical Subarus parked in the terminal lot. The owners of one of the cars, who were leaving on the ferry for several months’ winter vacation, asked a friend to pick up their car and take it to their home. The friend took the wrong car, leaving the owner of the other Subaru to believe her car was stolen – for three months.