State Delegate Tom Gear said his wife noticed the green Ford Explorer missing on the morning that he was to have driven to the state capital, Richmond, for a session of the General Assembly, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday.

The politician said the car, which bears House of Delegates license plates, was left unlocked outside his home.

Gear said he had a strange story to tell when he called his aide for a ride.

"I said, 'It's going to be a cold ride to Richmond. Someone stole my car and left a bike,'" he said.