This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

All may not be right with the world, but Tuesday at least saw Utah's Australian punter reunited with the red Outback that he nicknamed Basil.

Salt Lake City Police say the apparently stolen car was spotted at 1300 S. and Foothill Drive — a hop, skip and a Tom Hackett punt away from the owner's residence.

"It's literally less than a mile from my house, so it didn't make it very far," Hackett said. "I was telling other people, it actually goes a bit faster than 2 mph, so hopefully they didn't do too much damage to it."

The reigning Ray Guy Award winner first noticed it was missing when he and roommate/offensive guard Isaac Asiata were greeted Monday morning by an empty space.

He told media that he drove Asiata to team meetings on his scooter, with "sparks flying out the back," and that he hoped the Outback would be returned in working order after its occupants enjoyed themselves in a clean manner.

Hackett was at practice Tuesday when he received a message on Twitter telling him the car had been spotted.

He then asked team social media coordinator Madison Ford to retrieve it.

While Ford waited for police to arrive at the scene, another concerned citizen called to report an occupied stolen car, hastening the officers' arrival.

As you can see, Ford was eventually freed.

A key was broken off in the ignition, Hackett said, and police told The Tribune the battery also appeared to be dead.

But Hackett still had yet to see it after Tuesday's practice, and didn't know if the car's borrower was kind enough to leave Asiata's iPad, headphones and textbooks where he or she found them.

— Matthew Piper

Kyle Goon contributed reporting.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper