A business from Shropshire will need to make a hefty claim on its tipper van insurance following an incident which saw a commercial vehicle targeted by thieves.
The tipper, which forms part of the owner's fleet, had been taken out on a job by two workmen to a site in Accrington when the thieves struck.
It is understood that one of the workmen left the keys to the vehicle's ignition inside the pocket of a high visibility jacket, which he then slung over a bollard – he then went down a manhole with a workmate in order to dig a hole. It remains to be seen whether the relevant tipper van insurance provider is still willing to pay a settlement, given these circumstances.
A sergeant with Accrington Police commented, "The workers heard a screech of wheels, looked up and the van had gone.
In addition to making a tipper van insurance claim for the cost of the vehicle, which is valued at £15,000, the owner will also be making a claim for stolen contents. The police explained, "They also stole a wacker plate worth £1,000 and a pile extractor valued at £500. It's an opportunist theft. The van hasn't been recovered but some items have. Paperwork and magnetic strips were found discarded on Whitecroft Lane at the top of New Lane."