ELYSBURG — Someone stole a beloved metal dog sculpture outside an auto repair shop here, and the owner is offering a free oil change for its safe return.

Rover Drive has sentimental values to creator Vic Lisiewski, owner of Vic’s Transmissions. They’ve been together since the late 1990s.

Rover Drive and his pal, Turbo Man, are local landmarks on Route 54. Every summer, visitors on their way to Knoebels would stop and take pictures with the metal duo, Lisiewski said.

If the thief was planning to sell Rover Drive as scrap metal, he or she won’t get much money out of it, he explained.

Lisiewski hopes this was maybe just a prank. He intends to wait a while for Rover’s return before building a new dog.

‘Canine caper’

Rover Drive was built around 1998.

Lisiewski assembled Turbo Man first. He thought the metal man needed a sidekick.

So Lisiewski and several helpers built Rover out of vehicle parts. They painted the sculptures golden.

The sculptures were installed in front of the auto repair shop at 146 N. Market Street, the local name for Route 54.

Over the years, they became local landmarks.

But on Nov. 27, someone stole Rover Drive.

Rover Drive had been chained down, but the thief cut it loose that evening. The business has security cameras, but Rover Drive was sitting in a blind spot.

Since then, cameras have been repositioned to cover that area as well, Lisiewski said. 

Vic’s Transmissions reported the theft to police. Such a “canine caper” has never happened at the shop before, Lisiewski said.

‘Lonely transmission man’s friend’

The shop posted a “missing-reward” notice on its new Facebook page. It asked people to help find Rover Drive.

“Someone has stolen our friend ROVER-DRIVE ... He is our small pet dog mascot located at the front of the shop!!! If you know the whereabouts of our beloved pet please contact the Police or Vic’s Transmissions immediately! 

The shop offered a free oil change for Rover Drive’s safe return.

The reward notice gained attention from online visitors and media outlets. One Facebook user explained that he helped build the metal dog while working for Lisiewski years ago.

“I can’t believe somebody would steal a lonely transmission man’s friend or what they felt they would gain by doing so,” Gregg Barkus wrote. He asked the responsible party to “please return Turbo Man’s best friend”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Vic’s Transmissions, (570) 672-8692; or Ralpho Township Police, (570) 672-9892.

Gary Pang can be reached at 570-387-1234 ext. 1343 and at gary.pang@pressenterprise.net.