Fan Locates Chris Harris's Stolen Vehicle Before Police Could Even Sip Their Coffee | Carscoops

      The certified car enthusiast and TV presenter sought assistance online, and fans located his vehicle more quickly than the police did.

      14 hours ago

      by Stephen Rivers

      Former Top Gear presenter Chris Harris fell victim to car theft in Bristol overnight.

      The stolen vehicle was his cherished classic BMW M5, which he has owned and adored for 19 years.

      Fans managed to track it down within a day, and the car was returned largely undamaged.

      The emotions experienced by theft victims can be intense and varied. Generally, victims have limited options aside from allowing law enforcement to pursue the criminals. However, for celebrities, the situation is slightly different.

      Take Chris Harris, for instance, the former Top Gear host and avid car enthusiast. When his classic E28 BMW M5 was stolen, he reached out to his fans, who found it quicker than the police could.

      Harris boasts nearly 900,000 followers on Instagram alone. Early this morning (07/21/2025), he informed them that the M5 had been stolen in Clifton, Bristol overnight, stating, "Please share and help me find it. I've had it for 19 years." Within about three hours of posting, one person reported having seen it.

      A Real-Time Recovery

      Harris provided updates in real-time as he made his way to where the fan had spotted the vehicle. “The world’s a crazy place; why would you leave it on a residential street?” he remarked, referring to the fact that the stolen car was just sitting on the street as if it were any other parked vehicle.

      When he turned the corner and saw the M5, Harris exclaimed, “Look at that, there it is, my M5 up on a paver.” A follower named Lee had located the car, sent Harris a message, and offered to wait with the vehicle until Harris arrived. And indeed, that’s exactly what happened.

      Not Unscathed, But Intact

      “It’s a bit of a mess, but I’ve got it back and feel incredibly fortunate,” Harris commented, referring to the damage inflicted during the short period it was gone. The thieves had curbed one wheel and damaged the ignition to get the car started. Given the prevalence of chop shops and black markets that ship stolen cars overseas, this situation is relatively mild.

      Apparently, there wasn’t much fuel left when they took it, and even less when Harris found it. Nonetheless, he managed to start it on camera and confirmed that everything appeared normal. This outcome is about as favorable as one could hope for, especially since it was not law enforcement that solved the case.

      Credit: Chris Harris