URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — A couple in Urbana is breathing a sigh of relief after their stolen handicapped van was found after 4 hours missing Thursday.

“Now, the second day of the new year, our van gets stolen, but it’s a happy day. God answered our prayers,” said Cathy Martin, who owns the van.

Police arrested 34-year-old Nicholas Webber from Urbana on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop, where Webber was found driving the stolen van near Cunningham Avenue and Kenyon Road in Urbana, and the van was returned to the owners just after 3 p.m. Thursday.

Martin told WCIA it was a chaotic day with a happy ending. She said her back disability means the van is her legs, providing her with the ability to go out. She details how some expected and unexpected faces helped return the vehicle home.

Martin is thanking the community after her lost van was returned on Thursday afternoon. She says the $50,000 vehicle was stolen out of her garage around 11 a.m..

“My boyfriend said he was warming up our car, a conversion handicapped van, and he walked across the street to put some mail in the neighbor’s table. Less than a minute, he comes back and the van’s gone,” says Martin.

For her boyfriend Gary Smith, he saw the getaway firsthand.

“The car took off. I saw him taking off going that way … and I fell down out here, nervous,” says Smith.

The first clue of where it was taken was provided by someone you wouldn’t expect.

“Thanks to the mailman, he said he saw it on Perkins Road. And that’s when I called the sheriff’s office and said, ‘Hey, you better get out here, he’s in the vicinity.’ And they had him on the ground within a few minutes,” says Martin.

Police then arrested the suspect, 34-year-old Nicholas Webber, near Liberty Avenue in Urbana, less than a mile from where it was initially taken.

“So, it was missing for 4 hours. I mean, what the fluke is that, to get it back the same day,” says Martin.

The couple says there was no visible damage to the van, but on the inside, some money was taken.

“They took money out of it. I had change in it … I’d say $50,” says Smith.

Despite the lost coin, Martin says she’s grateful a potentially devastating result was avoided.

“I’m just thankful. It could’ve been wrecked in the chase, but it’s just dirty and needs some gas. So, that’s a perfect ending,” says Martin.

The Champaign County Sheriff’s Department told WCIA that Webber now faces charges of possession of a stolen vehicle. Police also say he was wanted for a parole violation.