Just two days after an antique tractor was stolen from a Maryland yard, a News4 viewer helped police track it down.
In 1957, Bob Fowler was 18 years old, and purchased his very own John Deere tractor.
It was in his family until last month, when someone stole the antique tractor that he had maintained for five and a half decades out of Fowler's front yard in Mount Airy, Md.
Fowler reported the tractor stolen to the police. He also took out an ad in the paper to try to find it.
He even hired a private investigator to track it down.
Fowler still works as an electrician. He's also a Mennonite. He is soft-spoken and did not want his face to be shown on TV. He is emotional about the loss of his tractor, but not vengeful.
When asked what he would say to the thief, he said, "'Give me my tractor back, and give me whatever money that I used to recover it.' And he goes his way, and I go my way."
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
And when asked if he could ever forgive the thief, he said, "I could."
A News4 viewer contacted Frederick County Sheriff's Office after seeing the story earlier this week, saying he had seen the tractor at a home about 13 miles away from Fowler's land.
Fowler told News4 he was " happy, real happy," when he got his prized possession back.
A man at the home where the tractor was found told News4 another man had purchased the tractor for $600.
"He had a clean bill of sale, that's all I can tell you," the man said.
No charges have been filed and police say they're still investigating the case.
