Henry the horse has been part of Diamond H Tack in Kelowna since 1995.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/google.ca/maps
June 22, 2022 - 7:00 PM
The iconic life-sized fibreglass horse at a Kelowna tack shop has been stolen and the owners want it back.
Harry the horse gets wheeled in and out of Diamond H Tack every day to serve as the store’s open-closed sign. Except Happy didn’t get wheeled back inside at the end of the day on June 20.
At 4:50 p.m. that day, 10 minutes before staff were getting ready to close up shop, two women were recorded on surveillance loading Harry into a U-Haul truck.
“I got really mad,” co-owner Heather Robson said about realizing it was gone. “He was stolen in front of our store, while we were working, in broad daylight.”
Harry has been a familiar part of Kelowna’s riding community since arriving at Diamond H Tack in 1995.
“I’d like to keep the tradition going,” Robson said.
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Harry was made in the 1970s and given to Robson by a family friend.
“We just want our horse back,” she said. “He’s not replaceable. He’s an icon in the community and he’s been here almost 27 years.”
Robson said Harry will be a hard thing to hide. Even if it gets painted, it will still be identifiable through its cracks and marks, she said.
“I don’t see him being of value to the (alleged thieves) or anyone else.”
And one member of the public did spot the horse later on June 20. A photo taken around 5:30 p.m. on Mills Road shows Harry in the back of a U-Haul. And unlike the surveillance footage that captured the alleged theft, the photograph was able to capture the numbers and letters that identify the truck – DC 2372 L.
This photo was taken around 5:30 p.m. on June 20, shortly after Harry was stolen from Diamond H Tack in Kelowna. It was seen on Mills Road behind the old Bed Bath and Beyond. The truck has DC 2372 L printed on the back.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
But whoever rented it paid in cash, didn’t return the vehicle when they were supposed to, and the GPS tracking device was no longer working, Robson was told by U-Haul. The name that was used to rent the vehicle has been passed onto police.
Sgt. Kevin Duggan from the Kelowna RCMP said several tips on the suspect vehicles have been submitted by the public.
There has been no reply to an email to U-Haul's head office requesting comment.
If anybody does spot Harry, Robson asks them to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference file number 2022-37285.
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