Dorset landscape gardener's van stolen from his driveway

Tom Dillon, director of TD Landscaping & Fencing Ltd, lost around £8,500 of tools and his van could be written off following the theft in Wareham.

An off-duty police officer discovered the Ford Transit in a farmer’s field in Norden but all of Mr Dillon's equipment was missing.

Despite the initial impact and ongoing challenges from the theft, the 50-year-old told the Daily Echo he was determined not to let the incident beat him.

The van was left dumped in a field in Norden (Image: Tom Dillon)

“For it to be taken from the driveway of my home is the shocking thing. I feel violated,” he said.

“The insurance company have been very helpful on replacing my tools and police have been brilliant.

“The tools are long gone and it is terrible, I felt so numb after it happened.

“I am not going to let this beat me but it is quite difficult to swallow.”

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The van was stolen between 9pm on Monday, September 5, and 5am on Tuesday, September 6.

Mr Dillon was at home on the night of the incident but did not hear any commotion on the driveway, in part due to the large thunderstorm.

He said he “couldn’t believe it” when he found the van had been taken.

“I got a call from a lady whose husband is an off-duty police officer who was out running and said he had just past the van, which was dumped in a field in Norden,” he said.

“From the pictures it seemed like they rammed it through a gate.

“The van had deadlocks. They cut a hole, got in and broke the doors from inside to out.

“My livelihood was just gone overnight. I have not got the van back as it is with police forensics.”

Landscape gardener Tom Dillon (Image: Tom Dillon)

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Mr Dillon, who has been working in the industry 15 years and never been a victim of theft before, said he knew he was not the only one to have their tools stolen but he still felt “terrible”.

“It needs to be said that I am absolutely amazed how people have responded to it,” he added.

“I shared the news on Facebook and so many people have offered their support.

“One guy just came round a couple of days after it happened and gave me a cordless drill for free.

“I have got the tools insured but replacing the van is going to be the big thing."

Mr Dillon light-heartedly added: “So if anyone wants to give me one of them that would be great.”

Tom Dillion said he had tool insurance but the impact of the incident was still severe (Image: Tom Dillon)

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “We received a report at 5.18am on Tuesday, September 6, relating to the theft of a Ford Transit van from outside an address in Northmoor Way in Wareham.

It was reported that the van was stolen some time after 9pm on Monday, September 5,and was subsequently found in the Morden area at around 7am that morning but damage had been caused to the windscreen and a number of power tools were missing from inside the vehicle.

“Enquiries into the matter are ongoing. No arrests have been made.”

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