a-c-a-b posted...
This seems way more risky than just stealing it and stashing it somewhere until you need it.
Maybe. If he steals it and never returns it, they notify the police immediately, and he's more likely to get caught while using it. That's a guaranteed way to make using the van a "one and done" situation. By returning it, there was a chance they don't actually notice for awhile, and if he knew they were elderly, he probably figured he could get away with it for awhile.