On May 6, a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Pacific Grove woman took her beloved blue BMW to El Estero Hand Car Wash for a spring cleaning. Watching the process from the video screen in the lobby, she saw the attendant put a final shine to her rearview mirror and started walking outside to drive it away.
And then someone beat her to it. An unknown man with a receding hairline and a big grin on his pale face jumped into the car like he owned it and floored it out the driveway.
“The guy just, bam, beelined, gave it gas and he was out of there,” said a still-incredulous Harmell.
It really is too easy. The attendants don’t check receipts, they hold the door open and let you in any car.