The suspect in the theft of a vehicle from a 7-Eleven store told police it was just a joke he was pulling on a friend.

South Bend Police were called to the convenience store on Mayflower on June 12 after a report of a stolen SUV. The victim told police that he had left it running.

39 year-old Ricardo Hudson was driving the vehicle when it was pulled over during a traffic stop. He reportedly told the police “This was a joke, this is my buddy’s car,” and said the friend probably wasn’t aware that Hudson was the one who’d taken it.

Hudson has been charged with one count of theft.