After briefly chatting with a circus performer, a Kasson man suspects that same person stole his vehicle in Austin on Monday afternoon.

The 45-year-old victim said he was working at the Apollo 3 gas station on West Oakland Avenue and chatting with a man who goes by his performance name of “Mervin Murphy.” Not long after, the victim’s 2000 Ford Ranger — valued at $6,000 — went missing along with a $600 laptop and $200 Milwaukee impact driver set. According to the police report, circus members confirmed that Mervin Murphy, 38, was working with them.

Police have not been able to locate Murphy or find information about his real name. The victim allegedly last saw Murphy going east on Oakland Avenue in his truck.

The victim said Murphy had a “carnival worker look,” according to the police report. He described Murphy as skinny, 6-feet-tall with a bushy mustache, jeans and a white T-shirt.

Detectives are investigating the alleged theft.