Stolen van bearing ‘Celtic Salmon of Wisdom’ logo found in good shape

“It has a little rust on it, but it is a work horse,” owner said Thursday afternoon. “My goodness, I want it back.”

Credit: Brock Masterson's

Credit: Brock Masterson's

UPDATE @ 9:55 p.m.: The stolen van belonging to Brock Masterson's Catering and Events has been found in the 2600 block of Revere Avenue in Dayton.

Company owner Rick Schaefer, in a post to social media, said, “... she started right up and looks like she’s all in one piece. The person who stole it was even kind enough to not only lock the doors but also not steal my olive oil LOL.”

The recovery apparently involved an anonymous call to Dayton police, Schaefer said.

EARLIER REPORT (Jan. 17)

There are vans that stand out and then there are vans that really stand out. 

Brock Masterson's Catering and Events owner Rick Schaefer assumed the giant "Celtic Salmon of Wisdom" on the side of his company's 2005 Chevrolet Express put the van in the really stand out category.

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But neither the  van’s age nor the design — one of Brock Masterson’s signature logo features —  stopped someone from stealing it some time between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. today, Jan. 17, Schaefer said.

The van, used primarily for festivals, was parked outside of  the company’s office at 446 Patterson Road in Dayton,  he said.

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Schaefer filed a report at 10:10 a.m. with Dayton police and posted a message about the missing van on Facebook.

Schaefer said he has parked the van or other vehicles in the same location for 30 years and has never had a problem before.

He is somewhat baffled by the theft.

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“It is an odd thing that someone would take,” he said. “It is pretty recognizable.”

Schaefer said the $3,000 wrap on the van featuring the Celtic Salmon of Wisdom is probably more monetarily valuable than the vehicle.

The van has about 180,000 miles.

Despite that, Schaefer wants the van, a backup to his main catering truck.

“It has a little rust on it, but it is a work horse,” he said. “My goodness, I want it back.”

The Celtic Salmon of Wisdom on the side of the van was designed by a Canadian artist. The design is a nod to his company’s love of Celtic culture.

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