Valet service gives OC couple's car to wrong person

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- Josh Gelle and his girlfriend Jodie Abadie watched video shot on Jodie's cellphone Saturday night as she grilled Laz Parking valet workers who gave their car keys to the wrong driver.

The couple was leaving Joe's Crab Shack in Newport Beach only to find their car missing.

In the video, the attendants tell Abadie differing accounts of who left in the couple's 2014 white Mazda CX-9.

"I thought it was a joke. I honestly thought it was a joke and I was just laughing at first," Abadie said. "I thought they were just playing around with us. I didn't think they were for real. I thought they were joking with us."

When Abadie realized it wasn't a joke, she said she was upset and shocked to realize the car was gone.

In a statement, Laz Parking said it appeared that the company policies and procedures had not been followed.

"We have apologized and are actively supporting the customer whose vehicle was affected. We take this incident very seriously, and once we have completed our review of the incident, we will act accordingly," the statement said.

For the couple, it's not just the car, but its contents that are gone. Inside the car was Abadie's 16-year-old son's hat, which was given to him by his father who died almost two years ago from cancer.

Joe's Crab Shack had no comment on the matter. The couple said they have no plans on ever using a valet service again.

They have filed a police report, but their car has not been found.