Thief Ditches Car After Short Jaunt

One of the two cars stolen from students last weekend returned to its Eliot House owner yesterday morning, unharmed after 24 hours in limbo.

The car, a new convertible, was spotted by the owner's roommate as he returned from an early-morning hockey session at the Arena. There was no apparent damage to the vehicle which was found behind Kirkland House.

The only indications as to its where-abouts during the time it was lost were a speedometer reading which showed a 32-mile trip, and a lipaticked cigarette buit in the ash tray. Cambridge police had previously predicted that the car would come back unharmed.

The round trip distance to Wellesley is almost exactly 32 miles.