When Jennifer Allen discovered her SUV had been stolen on Wednesday morning, she reported the theft to police but it was her social media post that created a community of good intentioned sleuths.
A disheartened Allen turned to Facebook to share a photo of her stolen BMW along with licence plate and asked her social media friends to spread the word.
In short time, the post had been shared more than 500 times.
The online exposure paid off as a Good Samaritan spotted Allen’s vehicle at a gas station during her lunch break. The woman alerted police and followed the SUV from the northwest community of Royal Oak to a location near McMahon Stadium before stepping aside and allowing Calgary Police Service to pursue.
The eagle-eyed Facebook user snapped a photo of the SUV, tagged Allen in the image and let the rightful owner know that police were watching the vehicle.
Allen and the Good Samaritan do not know one another but Allen says she’s forever grateful.
"She's very humble and says she just did what anybody else would do but I'm not sure that's the case,” said Allen. “She went above and beyond. She took her whole lunch break. Even after CPS told her not to follow, she continued following."
While Allen has been reunited with her ride, a wallet and a laptop that had been in the vehicle remain unaccounted for.
The Calgary Police Service says the public should not pursue suspects or suspect vehicles as these situations could turn dangerous.
With files from CTV's Rahim Ladhani
