Cars get stolen every day in Surrey, but last Thursday when Ranj Singh watched a thief speed off in his purple 1999 Honda Civic hatchback in a brazen daytime heist, the sense of loss was palpable.

Ranj Singh describes his style of music as 'Eastern rhythms and melodies meet Western folk rock.' (ranjsingh.com)

"It just hurts," he said. ​"If my wife's car had been stolen, we would have got over it in a few hours. But not this little beast — everybody knows about it."

Nicknamed "Purple Haze," the car has an astonishing 1.2 million kilometres on it and carries almost as many memories.

As a singer and musician, Singh relied on Purple Haze to get him to tour stops and local gigs, including his weekly concert for brain injury victims at Semiahmoo House.

Purple Haze had also served steadfastly during the years when he double shifted as a courier, racking up the kilometres.

Singh's two adult daughters learned to drive in the car, and over the years it had become a rolling family album of sorts, full of mementos and school art projects made by the girls when they were little.

And for a bucket of bolts, Purple Haze showed an uncanny sense of loyalty, according to Singh.

"It always got me home all these years. Whenever it broke down, it always broke down close to home."

Social media posts about Purple Haze have been shared widely, and people have been sending in photos of purple cars they spot, hoping to locate it.

In the five days since the theft, not a single lead has panned out. And despite long hours spent daily in his insurance rental vehicle searching the streets of Surrey, Singh has also come up empty.

"Driving around ... is a lot better than sitting here and suffering," he said. "I've still got my fingers crossed but chances aren't good. It had a full tank of gas, so it's good for 500 kilometres."

Ranj Singh in a live recording session with brain injury clients at Semiahmoo House. (Blue Frog Studios)

Singh says Purple Haze has been in three accidents over the years and all three times ICBC has wanted to write the car off. Each time he has fought, and won and got the car back on the road.

After the last accident, ICBC offered him a replacement value of $400.

"I had plenty of opportunity to get a new car ... but I just could never let it go," he said.

"That car has been a big part of my life. I just want it back, nothing else. I wouldn't press charges if [the thief] just brought it back and dropped it off."

Singh describes the suspect as a young, slim, Caucasian male wearing a teal blue shirt and light coloured pants.

Purple Haze was last seen in the Fleetwood neighbourhood at 1:45 p.m. PT, Thursday, July 13, speeding south on 164 Street with the alarm blaring.