Thieves hoist away van

BRAZEN thieves robbed a van from a Royton pub car park — by lifting it away on the back of a tow truck in broad daylight.

The offenders targeted a white Vauxhall Astra T-reg van at 8am on Sunday morning.

Landlord Tony Turner had let a customer park it on the Flowerpot Inn pub car park, Higginshaw Lane, for two months as it did not have its MOT.

But he claims CCTV footage showed the offenders drive on to the car park in a green tow truck, smash the driver and passenger windows, and attach lifting gear before hoisting the van away.

Mr Turner, landlord for eight years, said: “I checked the CCTV and couldn’t believe the blatant cheek of it. It happened in broad daylight, it’s the first time I’ve ever seen anything like that.”

The theft was reported to the police at noon but Mr Turner believes the van will be sold for parts.

He said: “You can see the offenders nearly drop the van once they have lifted it.”