Your Kindness Can Put You in Jail. | by Samuelgaekwu | Sep, 2025

A true Story How I narrowly escaped being blamed for a stolen car.

I once attended an event with a friend, who also invited another friend and his girlfriend. We all sat together, enjoying the evening. At some point, I stepped outside to answer a call near the parking area.

While I was there, a man wanted to drive out but his car was blocked by another vehicle. He was frustrated and searching for the owner. As I walked past, he stopped me and asked if the blocking car was mine. I said no. Then I noticed the car looked exactly like my friend’s — same Toyota Camry model. The only difference was the color. Since I hadn’t seen my friend’s car in a while, I assumed maybe he had repainted it.

To be sure, I went back to ask him. He told me it wasn’t his and pointed to where his car was parked. I thought nothing of it and went back inside.

Later, my friend said he was leaving. Before he left, he handed me a bottle of beer he had been given but didn’t want. A few minutes later, he returned, looking worried. He said he couldn’t find his car. At first, I thought it was a joke — but when we all went to the spot, the car was gone.

I was shocked, watching my friend hold his head in despair. He quickly went to the police station to file a report. During the questioning, the police asked him if he had any suspects. He mentioned that I had earlier asked him where his car was parked, but added that he trusted me completely and knew I could never be involved.

If not for his trust, I could have been arrested for something I knew nothing about. The simple act of trying to help identify a blocking car could have made me look like a suspect in the theft.

That day, I learned an important lesson: sometimes, even kindness can put you in trouble. Next time, if I don’t know who owns a car, I’ll simply say, “I don’t know.

I thank God for saving me from what could have been a life-changing accusation — and I carry the lesson with me always.