The chair belongs to antique shop Uncle Ho’s proprietors Robert McKay and Neil Hunter who appealed earlier in the week for its safe return with no questions asked.

The chair was found dumped behind the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Anstruther Road yesterday morning.

“After we put the word out we received 35 calls from people who had seen it or wanted to give their best wishes so it was a real community effort,” Mr Hunter said.

“I was absolutely elated when we got the chair back because the chair’s so important to us and has been part of the Mandurah community for so long.”

Mr MacKay said he could not imagine why someone would have stolen the chair.

“It’s not worth a lot of money so why someone has stolen our chair it’s hard to say, I guess they think it’s a practical joke,” Mr McKay said.

“Our building is known for that chair… stealing that chair is like stealing our livelihood because the chair draws people into the shop and it means a lot to us.

“It may not have cost a lot but it is critical in letting people know where and who we are.”

Mr McKay and Mr Hunter discovered the chair was missing on Sunday morning.

“We were gutted,” he said.

It is believed the chair was stolen in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Uncle Ho’s staff lock the big red chair along with other furniture under the verandah after close each day.

The big red chair was the only item stolen.

“Nothing else was touched or broken,” Mr McKay said.

“It also would have taken more than one person to have stolen it because it is quite a weighty item and takes both of us to move it every night.”

Mr McKay added the chair, which has unique carving and was imported from Malaysia, was a Mandurah icon.

“Everyday countless people will have their photo taken on the chair and we lend it out for charities and community events like the Christmas pageant and weddings.

Mr Hunter the big red chair would be well and truly securely bolted down in future.