A Dundee mobile grocer has been forced off the road, possibly permanently, after thieves broke into his van and ”completely cleaned out” his stock.
Stephen Stewart says the van has been off the road since the break-in last Friday and he is seriously considering whether it is worth continuing in business.
Stephen (43), of Dalclaverhouse, set up the business 18 months ago after taking voluntary redundancy from Michelin after 22 years at the factory.
Despite being a hugely popular service outside Michelin and at his regular stops at Mill o’ Mains Primary School and at sheltered housing complexes across the city, Stephen admits the break-in and theft has knocked the stuffing out of him.
”The police knocked on my door just after midnight and told me the van had been broken into,” he said. ”I went out and it was completely cleaned out. You wouldn’t believe it all my stock had gone. I don’t know how they managed it.
”There was about £3,500 worth of stock a lot of cigarettes and sweets, tins of beans, everything you could think of in a corner shop.
”I don’t think it’s been any of my customers or anybody that’s been in the van because there was a charity box with a couple of hundred pounds in it. I’m doing a charity cycle in May and they never took that, so they couldn’t have known it was there.”
Stephen says the converted Renault Master van was immediately put off the road by the theft as he couldn’t afford to re-stock it.
”I’m still off the road. The insurance only covered damage to the van. I’m taking the week off and thinking seriously about the future. I spoke to my wife and, even if I did re-stock it, every noise I hear outside my house I would be thinking it was being broken into again.
”I can’t afford a lock-up so I’m having a serious think about it.
”It would be a shame because the elderly folk in the sheltered housing complexes will miss it they all enjoy coming out to the van.
”I heard a woman say the other day that it’s the only time she sees her neighbours and gets a chance to speak to them. I think it’s the only time some of them come out of the house.”
Stephen has appealed for anybody who has any information on the break-in to get in touch with the police or to contact him on 07547 181219.
A spokesman for Tayside Police confirmed the break-in and said anyone with information can contact them on 0300 111 2222 or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.