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UPDATE (9:30 p.m.)

Missing pedal-surrey returns to downtown Harrisonburg

By Terry Ward

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The green candy-striped surrey has been returned. The owner, James "T.J." Warsing, beamed, "Now it can be in the Thanksgiving parade!"

The pricey pedal-powered buggy went missing a little before 2:30 p.m. Sunday and T.J. notified police.

Examining the returned surrey, T.J. noticed a dent in a rear fender where the cable lock bit into the metal when the unauthorized user tried to pedal it away. "Maybe that's why [on security video] it looked like the fella had so much trouble trying to get it to get going," said Warsing. "He didn't notice the lock was still on it at first; you can see him looking back at that rear wheel and wondering what's going on."

Warsing speculated that new sooty scuff marks he found on the rear of the canopy could have come from rubbing against a pickup truck's cab. He wondered aloud if a pickup had transported it at some point.

"Well, I'm going to get a much bigger bike lock," Waring said. He held up the slender bicycle lock which had a cut cable. He held the cable and posed for a snapshot with the returned surrey.

After WHSV published the missing vehicle story, a stream of tips came in to T.J. and police. On WHSV's Facebook page, a visitor commented, "Just called Crime Stoppers. I saw that guy turning off of Washington [Street] earlier today." A friend of T.J. sought specifics about the direction of travel. The reply was: "West on Washington. North on Jefferson."

WHSV security video shows that the vehicle reappeared around 7:15 p.m. Sunday.

The Harrisonburg Police Dept. is still investigating.

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ORIGINAL STORY (5:30 p.m.):

Unusual vehicle theft reported in Harrisonburg

By Terry Ward

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You might have seen the charming surrey-cycle in Harrisonburg's recent parade that honored veterans. Riders in the green 4-wheeled boardwalk bike with a green-and-white striped canopy threw candy to parade-watchers.

But on Sunday, Nov. 13 in broad daylight, someone made off with the vehicle which had been locked up in a Main Street parking lot.

The owner, James "T.J." Warsing, told WHSV's Terry Ward that it was the only such cycle in the area and sometimes tourists would rent it just for the novelty of riding around in it downtown.

T.J. also said it was shipped in all the way from Canada and then modified by local Mennonites who added an extra rear seat. T.J. said it had cost around $1,200.

Luckily, many downtown properties have security camera coverage. WHSV's own security cameras saw someone dressed in black and perhaps wearing a black-brimmed ball cap pedaling away slowly yet with determination. The video timestamps were from 2:26 p.m. and 2:28 p.m. The surrey had been secured close to 90 N. Main Street next to Walkabout Outfitters and then was visible moving toward the alley (N. Federal Street).

It's possible someone saw the distinctive slow-moving colorful buggy-like vehicle creaking away from the scene. Certainly it can't have gone too far without being noticed.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Harrisonburg Police Dept at 540-437-2650. Those with info who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Solvers at 540-574-5050 or by texting “HPD” plus the tip to CRIMES (274637).

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WHSV's Corey Donaldson contributed to this story.