Coronavirus UK: 'Toerags' attack vans delivering food to NHS hospitals
CROOKS described as toerags targeted a food distributor delivering essential supplies to hospitals, schools and care homes battling the coronavirus.
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The thieves targeted the JR Holland Team Valley Trading Estate smashing up seven vans and stealing diesel from the vehicles. The food distributor, located in Gateshead, north east England, had been helping the national effort to supply hospitals, schools and care homes with essential food supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the firm was forced to reduce the number of vans delivering the fresh produce while the vehicles were repaired.
Owner John Holland said he was "absolutely mortified" to learn about the break-in.
He told the ChronicleLive: “The yard’s been broken into through steel pallion fencing.
“They’ve smashed the fencing, smashed the tops of seven wagons, stolen the diesel and spilled it all over the yard.”
Mr Holland said he was told about the incident at 4am on Monday, which left drivers with no work.
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He said: "You could almost live with the theft but it’s the damage to the vehicles, which makes them unserviceable when there’s people going without.
“At this moment in time the demand is colossal for hospitals and schools.
“When I found out this morning at 4am I was mortified, it was horrendous.
“We are a business at the end of the day, but we do provide a service to the community.
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“We’re trying to keep people in work and this morning there were drivers with nothing to do.”
The firm's security camera show doors to two of the vans opening at about 5pm, but it's believed the thieves returned to siphon off diesel from seven of the 36 vans.
Mr Holland said: “Luckily we have been able to get someone out this morning to work on the vans, but it’s been a huge setback, just because some toerags have broken in to steal.
“I just think, where’s the wartime spirit?
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“There have been some wonderful stories in the past few weeks but then you’ve got things like this happening, and it’s so sad.”
Northumbria Police said they were looking into the matter.
A spokesman said: "We are appealing for information after a report of a theft from a premises on Duke's way, Team Valley.
"At some point between 2pm on Saturday (March 21) and 6pm Sunday (March 22), it was reported unknown offenders have gained access into the compound and stolen a quantity of fuel.
"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information about this incident is asked to email 9676@northumbria.pnn.police.uk quoting log 152 230320."
It comes after several attacks on supermarket vehicles.
An ASDA home shopping van was stolen least night and burnt in Weston-super-mare and similar attacks were seen in Bristol.
Iceland's managing director Richard Walker posted an image of one of the supermarket van's destroyed after an attack in Southmead, Bristol, on Monday night