Reward offered to catch minibus yobs

A FURIOUS businessman is today offering a reward to catch thieves who stole a specially adapted disabled minibus and ripped the seats out before dumping it.

The minibus, which was used to transport disabled children around to schools, was also found with a dent in the side and the exhaust ripped off in Paul's Road, Ipswich.

John Webb, who owns Anglia Executive Cars said three other of his vehicles were also smashed up in the raid at his yard at the Orwell Business Centre in Landseer Road between Monday night and Tuesday morning.

He said: “They've cut a hole in the fence to get in and they've smashed the windows of three vans and tried to rip the steering columns out, so there was glass everywhere.

“A minibus was stolen and has been driven through the fence so there's a great big hole in the fence too.

“Another car that was parked close to the minibus has had its window smashed as well. It was a right mess up here.”

The cost of the damage is believed to run in to thousands of pounds and Mr Webb, 23, said it will have a huge impact on his business.

He said: “It was a bit of a shock.

“We do a lot of work transporting disabled children round as we have contracts with schools and places like that.

“We managed to cover yesterday's jobs using some of our other vehicles but it's going to be really difficult to keep doing that.

“We're going to have to spend a lot of money putting everything right.”

The thieves are believed to have struck at the yard between 6pm on Monday and 7.30am yesterday.

Scenes of crime officers visited the yard yesterday to carry out a full investigation.

n. Anyone with information should contact Pc Adam Gibson at Ipswich Police Station on 01473 613500 or Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

n. Are you a regular user of the minibus? How has the raid affected you? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk