COUPLE'S SUV LOST IN CARWASH SWITCH.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - In an apparent case of mistaken SUV identity, a woman drove away from a carwash in a white Toyota Highlander, leaving behind her own white Isuzu Trooper - and a wallet filled with credit cards, a bank statement and other papers.

``The cars were both white, both SUVs, parked next to each other,'' said Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Robert Benning. ``When the employee gave the signal that the car was ready, she walked over and gave him a $5 bill and he handed her the keys.''

An unidentified Canyon Country couple noticed the woman driving away in their Toyota, but quickly assumed she would return as soon as she realized her mistake. About five minutes later, they called police.

A few minutes after deputies arrived, the couple noticed the woman driving their Toyota past the carwash, located on Sierra Highway. Deputies jumped in their patrol cars but were unable to find her.

Authorities traced the name on the credit cards and vehicle registration in the Isuzu to an address in Agua Dulce, although state records for the license plate listed a Newhall address. Deputies visited both addresses, but received no answer.

Benning would not reveal the name of the woman traced to the Agua Dulce address, but said she is wanted on a $10,000 warrant for driving with a suspended license.

Albert Naber, owner of Water Wheel Car Wash, said the incident initially seemed like a simple mistake.

``It doesn't look like she did it on purpose,'' Naber said. ``It's unusual, because someone who wants to do something bad (does not) leave their stuff behind. I've been here 20 years, and this is the first time someone has mixed up cars.''

But information provided by witnesses cast doubt on the theory that the woman simply mistook the vehicles.

``The driver's license lists the woman as 5 foot, 125 pounds,'' said Benning, who received the description through the Department of Motor Vehicles. ``Both of the women are blond, mid-20s, white, but witnesses described the (driver) as more like 6 feet tall. That's a pretty big difference.''

Authorities were working to determine whether the driver and the woman on the driver's license were the same person.

About 2:15 p.m., three hours after the couple saw the woman drive away, authorities had the Isuzu towed as evidence and filed a stolen-vehicle report on the Toyota.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Clarita sheriff's station at [phone].

Amy Raisin, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com