A STUDENT whose Audi A3 was stolen from a car wash has been reunited with his vehicle.

As we reported in yesterday’s Bolton News, Aakil Patel was devastated when his car was taken from the facility in Endon Street, Bolton, after being valeted.

Mr Patel and his pals took to the streets to find his car and, by sheer luck he says, they found it parked up in a street in the Radcliffe area.

Mr Patel, an electrical engineering student, had left his keys in the car as he went to pay for a valet and within a few minutes a thief had driven the car away.

The Bolton News published CCTV images from a nearby business in attempt to find the vehicle. The 25-year-old, from Heaton, who also works to support his studies at Manchester Metropolitan University had saved up for the car, which he bought last February.

He said: “I didn’t think I would find it. My friends and I just kept driving around so many different streets, we didn’t even know which streets and I saw it. I jumped out I had my spare key and just got in and drove.

“I couldn’t even say which street it was on it was towards Radcliffe.

“The car has not been damaged, everything is okay.” Mr Patel relied on the car for work, and had to depend on his family and friends for lifts after the car was stolen late afternoon on Tuesday. He found it on Thursday evening.

Audi A3 stolen from Endon Street and police have launched an investigation

Mr Patel added: “It’s amazing it has been found because I don’t think the insurance would have paid.”

He added: “I would say to drivers if you are leaving your car always take your keys with you,

"I never want to go through this experience again or for anyone else to go through it either.”