Hollywood actor Jerry O'Connell has expressed profound gratitude to law enforcement after his cherished classic car was successfully recovered following a theft incident. The 51-year-old performer took to social media platforms on Friday to publicly thank the Malibu/Lost Hills Station for their efforts in retrieving his meticulously restored 1979 Cadillac.
Police Intervention Leads to Swift Recovery
According to official statements from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the distinctive vehicle was intercepted by an alert officer after being observed speeding along the Pacific Coast Highway on January 14th. During the subsequent detention, the responding sergeant noted that the driver appeared to be experiencing homelessness and, under questioning, proved unable to identify the legitimate registered owner of the luxury automobile.
Remarkably, as reported by local media outlets, the Cadillac was actually returned to O'Connell before the actor even realised his prized possession was missing. The individual responsible for taking the vehicle was formally arrested and processed at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station before being released with a promise to appear in court at a later date.
Social Media Clarifications and Gratitude
O'Connell addressed the unusual situation through multiple posts shared across both X and Instagram platforms. The actor humorously clarified his circumstances while expressing appreciation for police intervention. 'Just to be clear, I am not the homeless man in this story,' he wrote alongside a reshared news report. 'Very grateful for @LHSLASD THANK YOU!!!'
In a separate Instagram post, the performer took personal responsibility for the security lapse that enabled the theft. 'I left my keys in center console. MY BAD. This one is on me. Again, THANK YOU LOST HILLS SHERIFFS!!!' he candidly admitted alongside coverage of the incident.
Previous Security Incident Revealed
This automotive recovery follows another unfortunate incident involving the actor just four months earlier. In September, O'Connell fell victim to theft at a Los Angeles-area yoga studio where his mobile phone, wallet, and cash were stolen from his gym shoes during a fitness class.
The actor explained his usual security routine to media outlets: 'I wear the same pair of dirty old sneakers to yoga class and before class I took them off and slipped my wallet and phone into the dirty shoes. I've done that over 100 times — I know this because my app says I've taken 107 classes.'
Surveillance footage reportedly captured the female perpetrator pretending the items were hers before making off with the belongings. She subsequently spent approximately $600 using the stolen credit cards before O'Connell could freeze his accounts.
The sentimental loss proved particularly distressing for the actor, who revealed: 'The only real bummer is that I had a photo of Rebecca from high school in my wallet, a four-leaf clover Jack McBrayer had given me, a $2 bill I got while shooting Stand By Me, and my grandfather Charles Witkowski's obituary.'
Personal Life Context
Jerry O'Connell, married to model-actress Rebecca Romijn since 2007, shares 17-year-old twin daughters Charlie and Dolly with his spouse. Following their eighteenth wedding anniversary celebration in July, the couple appeared on Andy Cohen Live where they disclosed that maintaining separate bank accounts has been a contributing factor to their enduring marital relationship.
