Linda Gipson, a mother-of-five from Ypsilanti, Michigan, who mistakenly loaded her children’s Christmas presents into the trunk of the wrong car, is counting on the kindness of its owner to return the missing items this season.
Linda Gipson was overloaded with $700 worth of merchandise during her shopping trip to Twelve Oaks Mall in nearby Novi, so she put her bags in what she thought was her daughter’s car before returning inside.
When Linda Gipson finished shopping an hour later, she returned to the parking lot to find the car she had filled up with gifts was gone.
Linda Gipson told Detroit Free Press: “The first thing I thought was, <<Please, don’t tell me I put my things in the wrong car>>.”
But when she realized what had happened that Thursday afternoon, she broke down.
“I just started crying,” Linda Gipson said.
Linda Gipson said a similar silver 2003 Focus parked nearby opened with the same key as her car.
She told ABC News she and her husband reported the incident to mall security, who in turn called police.
But until the stranger behind the wheel of the other car comes forward, several items will be missing from under the family tree, including a pair of boots, perfume, sweaters, a hat and a scarf – and two gifts her husband had bought for Linda Gipson.
Linda Gipson, who described herself as an in-home health aide who currently has no clients, estimated the value of the missing items at $700.
Assistant Police Chief Tom Lindberg of the Novi, Michigan Police Department, told ABC surveillance cameras did not capture Linda Gipson leaving the mall with the packages.
A Ford spokesman was unaware of any other instance where someone was able to unlock a vehicle using the key to a different car.
The company is said to be investigating the incident.
But Linda Gipson is meanwhile pleading for anyone who may have parked at the shopping mall driving a similar car on the same day to check their trunk and come forward if her purchases are found.
“I’m hoping that whoever has the gifts.. is going to have a heart and return everything back,” Linda Gipson said.
