Plea to trace 'beloved' family van stolen from Mossley

A family has been left heartbroken after their beloved 'Wolf Van' was stolen from Roughtown Road, Mossley.

Phil Glynn, 66, spent months during lockdown modifying the 'Wolf Van' for his four grandchildren so that he could do the school runs and take them on 'school holiday adventures'.

On Tuesday 5 September, at 14:43, thieves drove the Ford Transit T7 up the one-way Roughtown Road onto Stockport Road and were last seen heading past The Farrars Arms towards Uppermill at 14:57.

Kayleigh, Phil's daughter, said the offender was on foot and 'casually' walked down the hill then got in and started the vehicle 'as if it was theirs'.

"As a family, we are all devastated," She said.

"Dad's worked on this van since he retired, making it fully functional for all the grandchildren for school runs, picnics, camping, days out etc.

"They too are all gutted and the 'Wolf Van' is the first thing they are asking about each morning. As it’s such a distinctive van, even the children in the school playground are missing seeing it.

"Movement as a family is now near impossible and we just need to get it back."

When the Covid pandemic hit and Phil retired, he began the van's transformation.

"He put the windows and the seats in and carpeted it out - he did it all himself," Kayleigh continued.

"The windows had just been solid panels so he had to physically cut them out and buy the glass to go in there.

"Because of the vehicle it is and what he's done with it, it's so unique and you can't just go and get another one of them. We're all just so heartbroken and have been searching everywhere we can to find it."

The family have also been appealing for information and ring doorbell footage on social media, which has been shared across multiple groups in Tameside and Saddleworth.

The registration plate is MT10 PKO. If anyone has any information regarding the van or owns a ring doorbell camera between The Farrars Arms and Uppermill, please contact 07817 975151.

Roughtown Road was targeted again last night (Thursday 7 September) by two balaclava-clad bikers, with CCTV footage posted to Facebook claiming that there had been two attempted robberies and an attempt to steal another vehicle on this road.