Rodeo announcer has brutal prank played on him just hours before California show: ‘Off to a great start’

A popular rodeo announcer has revealed he was the victim of a bizarre prank Friday after his custom truck was taken and left miles away just hours before a scheduled show.

Texan Anthony Lucia said the incident unfolded shortly before he was set to enter the arena at Desert Rodeo in Thermal, California, after attending a pre-show meeting and unloading equipment.

“It started out great, got all my stuff done, went to the meeting, had a great meeting,” Lucia said in a video recounting the incident.

But when he returned, his truck — a highly recognizable custom vehicle — was gone.

“Come out, my truck’s gone. I cannot find it anywhere. Like, I’m looking around asking everybody, nobody’s seen it,” he said.

Lucia said the truck was easily identifiable and difficult to miss, adding to his confusion when it suddenly disappeared. “My truck’s a very distinct… it’s sweet looking. Anyway, it is gone,” he said.

The announcer said he initially panicked before using a tracking app to locate the vehicle, which showed it had been moved off-site.

“So I immediately, like, panicked… and then I pulled up my app, and I’m like, it’s on Lindbergh Road or something,” he said.

Lucia and others began searching the area, driving around nearby roads and even checking locations near the airport before eventually spotting the truck.

“I found a way down a gator, got a golf cart… get in, and there’s my truck,” he said. Nothing inside the vehicle appeared to be missing, including valuable rodeo equipment.

“Nothing was taken out of it. My saddle was there, so somebody played a very ill-timed joke on me, two hours before the rodeo starts,” Lucia said.

Despite the scare, Lucia said he was able to recover the truck in time for the event and continue with his duties.

He added: “Anyways, we’re all good. God’s good… Off to a great start.”

It remains unclear who moved the truck or how it was taken. No arrests have been reported, and Lucia indicated he believes the incident was a prank rather than a theft.

The rodeo event proceeded as scheduled.