Stolen stroller returned to owner after grassroots recovery effort

MILLERTON — News of a stolen stroller swept through Millerton last week after a grassroots effort to recover the expensive baby equipment gained traction on Main Street and social media.

The stroller, an UPPAbaby Vista model — widely considered a high-end brand and valued at more than $1,000 — was taken from outside Relief Chiropractic and Wellness on the corner of Main Street and South Center Street before it was anonymously returned the following day.

According to its owner, Tyler Van Steenbergen, the stroller had been tucked neatly outside of his office and was taken around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 27.

Van Steenbergen said he and his wife, who also owns a Main Street business — Treefort Toys and Gifts — became uneasy after their stroller disappeared.

“It was a shock because Millerton is so safe all the time,” Van Steenbergen said.

The couple waited about two hours before calling the Millerton Police Department for assistance. Without adequate security footage, however, Van Steenbergen said officers told them they were not optimistic about recovering the stroller.

“They said it would be like finding a needle in a haystack,” he said.

Undeterred, Van Steenbergen posted flyers up and down Main Street and shared the information on Facebook.

Around 8 a.m. the following day, he said he received a text message from someone who apologized and claimed they believed the stroller had been left out for free, noting that baby equipment is sometimes left on the street for others to take.

The stroller was returned to the alley behind the chiropractor’s office on South Center Street.

Van Steenbergen said there was no sign indicating the stroller was free and that it had not been placed by the roadside.

“I find that hard to believe because it was tucked up right against my office,” he said of the person’s claims.

Following the incident, Van Steenbergen said he ordered additional security cameras for the property. He said he and his wife are just happy to have their stroller back, which is used by their seven-month-old baby.