Diners at Chicago restaurant shocked by suspicious Rolls-Royce with no license plates and the truth soon came to light

A suspicious Rolls-Royce with no license plates had diners at a Chicago-area restaurant wondering what was going on, but the truth was far more serious than they could have imagined.

The luxury car immediately stood out in the parking lot, especially given its eye-watering price tag and unusual circumstances.

Police soon became interested in the mysterious vehicle after discovering its identification details.

What they found would turn a strange-looking Rolls-Royce into a much bigger story.

The suspicious Rolls-Royce was stolen from Texas but found in Chicago

Orland Park police discovered the Rolls-Royce on January 31, 2026, after noticing it had no license plates.

Officers checked the VIN beneath the windshield and found the vehicle had been reported stolen from Fort Bend County, Texas, on January 24.

Police determined it had been stolen while being transported from Texas to North Carolina before somehow ending up in Illinois.

Rather than simply tow it away, officers waited to see who would return.

Later that day, a 31-year-old man identified as Husamuldeen Abed came back to the Rolls-Royce, unlocked it with a key and got inside. Police then arrested him.

The truth behind the no-plate Rolls-Royce

Police said Abed was also carrying an Illinois license plate that had been reported stolen and belonged to a 2006 Audi.

He was charged with aggravated unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle and possession of stolen property.

The Rolls-Royce was recovered and Abed was released following his initial court appearance.

There has since been little publicly reported about the case. A June 2026 follow-up found no publicly reported plea, additional charges or final disposition.

That leaves one major mystery unanswered: how exactly did a Rolls-Royce stolen in Texas while being transported to North Carolina end up sitting outside a restaurant in suburban Chicago?

For the diners who first noticed the strange luxury car with no license plates, what looked like an unusual parking job turned out to be something much more serious.

A brief history of Rolls-Royce

• 1904: Henry Royce and Charles Rolls meet in Manchester and agree to work together, laying the foundations for Rolls-Royce.
• 1906: Rolls-Royce Limited is officially formed and launches the 40/50 H.P., better known as the Silver Ghost, which quickly earns a reputation as one of the world’s finest cars.
• 1925: The first Phantom arrives, beginning one of the longest-running luxury nameplates in automotive history.
• 1965: The Silver Shadow launches, becoming the manufacturer’s first production car with a monocoque construction.
• 1971: The company’s car and aircraft-engine businesses become separate entities.
• 1998: BMW acquires the brand and naming rights for motor cars.
• 2003: The first car built at the company’s new Goodwood, England, factory is delivered – a new-generation Phantom.
• 2017: The company revives its coachbuilding tradition with the ultra-exclusive Sweptail.
• 2023: Celebrates 20 years of production at Goodwood, having expanded its range well beyond the Phantom.

The 10 most stolen cars in the US in 2025 according to the NICB

1. Hyundai Elantra – 21,732 thefts
2. Honda Accord – 17,797 thefts
3. Hyundai Sonata – 17,687 thefts
4. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 – 16,764 thefts
5. Honda Civic – 12,725 thefts
6. Kia Optima – 11,521 thefts
7. Ford F-150 – 10,102 thefts
8. Toyota Camry – 9,833 thefts
9. Honda CR-V – 9,809 thefts
10. Nissan Altima – 8,445 thefts