Holidaymaker delighted to hear his stolen van was recovered by rural officers

Our rural engagement officers made one holidaymaker very happy when they rang him in Mallorca to give him the news that they had recovered his stolen van.

The Mercedes Sprinter van was recovered intact, tools still inside, in Sewardstone Road, Waltham Abbey, on 1 June, not long after it had been stolen from St Osyth.

PC Callum Barber was delighted to deliver the good news.

“The owner had just got off the plane in Mallorca when I spoke to him and he was very happy.
“It’s very satisfying to be able to reunite people with their stolen property. In this case the van contained the tools of the owner’s trade and he would not be able to earn a living without them.
“Then there’s the cost of replacing the van, as well as the tools, and higher insurance premiums.
“Fortunately, the van was fitted with a vehicle tracker, which helped us to locate it.
“Trackers, and information from the public, help us to recover lots of valuable equipment and reunite it with its owners.”

Our inquiries into the theft continue.

In the past year, our rural engagement officers have recovered 65 vehicles which have either been stolen or identified as being involved in crime. Wherever possible, they will seek to return those vehicles to their owners.

We welcome information from anyone who may know something about them. You can report information via our website or by ringing 101.

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