Police have recovered a horse-drawn carriage that was stolen from a church parking lot near Birmingham ahead of a funeral.

The carriage and the trailer it was on were found Monday behind a home about 20 miles (32 km) from the church in Brighton where it was taken, al.com reports. Brighton Police Chief Larry Woods told the news site multiple people are in custody in connection with the theft.

The owner of the carriage, Frank Tate, said it was valued at more than $15,000. His company, Magic Tours, provides carriages for funerals, downtown Birmingham tours and other special occasions.

Tate told al.com he left the carriage in the parking lot of St. Mark AME Church to pick up horses. He planned to use it later on Saturday to take a family to a funeral, but when he returned about 9 a.m., it was gone.

He said the carriage would be hard to hide.

“It’s a distinctive carriage,’’ Tate said. “Nobody else around here has carriages.”