A Michigan Amish family’s horse and buggy was stolen from outside a Walmart while they shopped over the weekend, police said.
The family – who have not been named publicly – were inside the store’s Sturgis location around 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the suspect made off with their transportation, the Sturgis Department of Public Safety said.
“The victims had gone shopping at Walmart and came out to find their horse and buggy stolen,” the official statement read.
“A truck driver, parked in the Walmart lot, had seen a female steal the buggy…Police had contact with the suspect earlier in the day at Walmart,” it continued.
It is not clear exactly why police previously dealt with the suspect.
Authorities found the stolen horse and buggy later that evening, and arrested the 31-year-old suspect – who has not been named publicly – at a motel nearby, police said.
The family was shopping at a Walmart in Sturgis when the theft took place. Google MapsThe suspect was booked at St. Joseph County Jail on charges of larceny and larceny of livestock, pending arraignment, they added.
“The horse was unharmed and the family had their buggy returned,” the Stugis Department of Public safety noted.
The Amish are an ethno-religious group known for their plain, old-fashioned clothing and for forgoing most contemporary technology – including cars and the Internet.
The horse and buggy were returned to the family by the end of the evening. Getty ImagesAs of 2023, Michigan was home to over 18,000 Amish, according to the US Census.
