A van was returned Friday to a Westside day care after it was reported stolen Tuesday morning.

The owner of Believers and Achievers Learning Center is relieved it's been found but devastated someone would take it in the first place.

Children at the day care had limited options for their first week of summer because the van they planned to get around in was gone.

"We looked everywhere for the van," day care student Logan Burnnett said. "We looked outside, in here, we looked every place, and we couldn't find it."

Investigators eventually found the van abandoned in Riverside, torn up and stripped down.

"It's not like it's, you know, the newest van in town, but I'm just saying, it was our van and we paid for it, and we didn't take it from anyone, and we worked hard for that van," day care owner Eleanor Evans said.

She said the van was parked in front of the day care, and she's shocked someone would be bold enough to steal it.

"The most you can do in situations like this is to make sure you've done your part by having the windows up, the doors locked and having the keys out of the ignition," Channel 4 crime analyst Ken Jefferson said. "At that point, if it's still stolen, then you have to rely on your insurance."

Jefferson said he's not completely surprised to hear this could happen, and he warns people to play it safe when it comes to parking the car.

Evans just hopes this doesn't happen to anyone else.

"I know eventually God will make a way, that he will make a way, so I think that it will work itself out," Evans said.

Police have fingerprinted the van for clues, but there are currently no suspects. If you have any information about the theft, call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.

A VyStar account has been set up to help the day care replace the van. The account number is 750363025400511.