FEDERAL WAY, Wash. -- A thief who stole a Federal Way woman's blue Toyota Camry from outside her apartment complex left behind a car of the same make and color, police said.

Police found the victim's car in Auburn and told her about the theft Monday. She said she thought the thief returned the vehicle when she found what she believed was her car near where she had left it.

After she hopped inside, she realized that it wasn't her Toyota after all. It was the same make, the same model and the same color. But an acquaintance of the woman said there was one difference.

"The interior was different, and we are thinking, 'Who does this kind of stuff?'" said Michael Briley.

Police said it's fairly common for car thieves to ditch one car and take another of the same model because the thief knows how it works.

What's unusual is that the stolen car left behind happened to be a near duplicate of the one taken from the victim.

The victim said she cannot afford to pay the $280 it will take to get it out of Rick's Two Way Towing in Auburn. The owner said it would be illegal for him to cut her a deal, and the car may end up being auctioned off in 21 days.

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UPDATE: Because so many KIRO7 viewers offered to pay for the car to be taken out of impound - Rick's Towing has decided to eat the fee he's contracted to charge for Auburn PD, and tow the car back to the woman for free.

We are as we speak headed to get video of the car owner getting her vehicle back, look for an update on kirotv.com later today - and then video on our early evening newscasts.