Stolen Van Driven Off With Window Cleaner Inside

The stolen van.

Thief drives away stolen van with worker inside: A family's livelihood hangs in the balance after their van full of specialist equipment was stolen while a worker was still inside. A 19-year-old window cleaner from Active Cleaning and Maintenance was in the back of the van, which was parked in Dawson Close, Accrington, when a robber jumped in the front seat and sped away. The stunned window cleaner fell out of the rear of the vehicle as it began to move, and quickly jumped to his feet to chase it down the street.

The Ford Transit van was full of specialist cleaning equipment including a water tank worth £9,000 as well as power jets, hoses and ladders, all of which would have been worth around £20,000 altogether. The firm uses the equipment to carry out their services which include window cleaning, power washing, ground maintenance, office cleaning and valets. Without it, the family-run business will struggle to operate and Andrew Wilcock, managing director of the firm, has now issued a £1,000 reward to anyone who finds the van.

CCTV picture of van being driven away.

CCTV picture of the worker running after the vehicle.

Jessica Dowling, Andrew’s daughter-in-law, said: “The van was essential to our livelihoods and we just can’t believe that this has happened. It’s a family business and we are all going to be affected by it. “My partner Ben and I have two young children, a three-year-old and a seven-month-old, and we just don’t know how this is going to affect our income. “We only live round the corner from Dawson Close and it’s unsettling that this kind of thing happens, especially so close to home.”

The theft was reported to the police who said that they would log the registration and let the family know if it was found. The Wilcock family knocked on doors and collected CCTV images. Jessica said: “The police weren’t doing anything and even when we had collected the CCTV they told us they couldn’t come and collect it and we had to drop it off at the station. I know it maybe isn’t a priority to them but the business is in danger of folding.”

A spokesman for Lancashire police said: “We are aware of this incident and enquiries are being made. CCTV has been viewed, but unfortunately on this occasion it has not been helpful to the investigation. If anybody has any information they are asked to call police on 101.”

Lucky Escape For Window Cleaner As Van Is Stolen

Window cleaners Steve Conboy , 39 , and step son Ben Mather , 19 , whose van was stolen while they were working on a job The incident that happened in Reddish near to their home on Crterion Street in Reddish. Click to enlarge.

Window cleaner left hanging after thieves steal his van: Thieves stole a window cleaner’s van – while he was hanging off the back holding onto a hose. Ben Mather was still attached to the back of his stepfather Steve Conboy’s white Ford Transit by a water hose when it was stolen in Reddish. The 19-year-old managed to unhook himself from the equipment as it unravelled as the driver sped off. The incident happened at about 10.30am on Monday on Wentworth Road as Ben and Steve, who owns SWS Cleaning Services, were doing their rounds. The theft happened when Steve went briefly to speak to Ben at the rear of the van. Neither had chance to get a look at the driver. Police arrived on the scene shortly afterwards but the van has yet to be recovered.

Steve, who lives on nearby Criterion Street, says his livelihood has been severely affected by the theft. He said: “Ben was still attached to the van. He could have easily been killed. It’s only just sinking in now. I couldn’t believe it. “Everything was in that van, all the equipment, poles, water tanks, my house keys, customer lists. “I saved for seven years to buy the van. “I’d only had it six months so it didn’t have signage on yet. It was in pristine condition. “Everyone knows us around here, I’ve been going for 11 years. “The insurance company can’t do anything yet because the van hasn’t been recovered.” Steve is offering a £500 reward for the safe return of the van. Its registration number is E008NUH.

Wentworth Road, scene of the robbery.