Marda Loop condo building's colourful communal car stolen

If you’ve seen a colourful Smart Car cruising around the streets of Calgary, the good people at Mantra would like a heads up.

The new, four-storey condo building on the corner of 21st Street SW and 35th Street SW had been offering access to the Smart Car as an incentive to owners, and the vehicle had been decked out with a colourful decal advertising the building.

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According to a release from Mantra, the vehicle was stolen over Victoria Day Long Weekend and a reward is being offered for any information on the theft.

“While we respect the thieves’ concern for the environment, we want our electric Smart Car back as it is a community car for all the residents at Mantra,” said Calvin Buss, president of Buss Marketing, who is in charge of sales for Mantra, in the release.

“The full-size Mantra logo on the car will make it easy to spot and we are asking the public to keep an eye out for our Smart Car, there is a chance it will be returned. We are offering free use of the car for two weeks for information leading to the recovery of the vehicle. Marda Loop needs its Mantra back.”

Those who spot the car are warned not to approach the vehicle directly, but to instead call 911 immediately.

Given that the theft occurred over Victoria Day Long Weekend, Buss did note that this may all be the result of a drunken misunderstanding:

“The theft did occur at the tail end of the long weekend and so it is possible that someone woke up with a big hangover and was surprised to see the Mantra car parked in their garage. Stupider stunts have occurred on long weekends, but we just want our community car back,” said Buss, in the release.

Either way, be sure to keep an eye out for the colourful car as you make your way around town this week, because you may just secure yourself a few weeks of free rides for finding it!