SEDALIA, Colo. — The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is searching for a truck that was stolen from the parking lot of the AMC movie theater on Centennial Boulevard in Highlands Ranch Thursday.
The truck's current owner, Colton Smith, said this isn't about the vehicle -- it's about what it represents. The truck belonged to Colton's dad, Steve Smith.
"I never wanted to get rid of it, and if I get it back, it's mine to the end of time," Colton said.
Colton lost his dad more than two years ago. He treasures every memory of every moment spent together.
"I grew up with him running calls, day and night, getting used to him running out the middle of the night, waking everyone up because someone needed help, and that's always the person I remembered him as and the person I personally always wanted to be," Colton said.
Steve Smith was the Fire Marshall for the West Douglas County Fire Protection District. It was a job he loved right up until his final moments.
"We were both coming home from a power lines down call. I was driving us home in the truck. He was in the passenger seat. Drove home. He said he was proud of me. Grabbed my hand after that," Colton said. "And I went out because there was a traffic cone that blew out in the middle of the street, and by the time I came back to the truck, he was gone."
It's been a tough two years for Colton and his family without Steve.
One thing he's always kept close - his dad's beloved truck.
"The amount of memories I've had in that thing, just driving around," Colton said.
Thursday, he'd gone to the movies with his family. When he came out of the theater, he found his truck was gone.
"And I'm frantically pressing the key fob, listening for a honk from that thing," Colton said. "It's like 'oh, she's gone.' I was just so angry and so sad at the same time."
A piece of his dad had just vanished.
"Awful, awful people doing that," Colton said. "It's just like, you're doing it for quick money. But you don't know who you took that car from."
Still, Colton's holding onto hope that his dad's stolen truck will turn up.
"I have to be," Colton said. "It's just like, I don't want to think about that being chop shopped and gone. I'm just hoping that it's out there somewhere, because I want those memories back."
The missing truck is a black 2006 Ford F350. The plates, if they're still on it, are Colorado firefighter plates OJO 901.
If you have any information, contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, or report tips anonymously to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS