A couple accidentally drove the wrong car home from Montezuma Mexican Restaurant earlier this month, leaving their own SUV behind and sparking a theft investigation.

Daniel Redburn, a volunteer firefighter with the Dolores Fire Department, said he was inside the Dolores restaurant for a meeting on Sept. 7. He went outside about 3 p.m. and found his red Ford Escape missing, according to a Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office report.

He said he had left his key in the ignition. His fire equipment, including fire turnout gear, emergency bag, wildland gear and other tools also were in the car.

After reporting his vehicle missing, another volunteer firefighter spotted it 20 minutes later, Redburn told The Journal, citing the strength of the Dolores Fire Department’s network.

His car was found parked outside a residence in the 200 block of West Central Street in Dolores.

Jack Willet told the investigating officer, Deputy Hakan Aybar, that he and his wife had dinner at the restaurant. It wasn’t until they arrived home that they realized they’d gotten into the wrong car, the report says.

Willet also has a red SUV, the deputy wrote.

“It was a complete misunderstanding,” Redburn said. “It’s very comical – a lot of people have gotten a laugh over it.”

Redburn stopped by the Willet home to pick up his SUV. He told the deputy he knows the couple, and wouldn’t press charges.

Willet was unavailable for comment Wednesday.