A Ford Transit campervan built by a recovering cancer survivor has been stolen from a drive in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
Helen Gradwell and Tom Dutson were sleeping at home when it was taken by in the early hours of September 2, the Manchester Evening News reports.
The self-built camper was built while in lockdown after recovering from cancer two years ago.
After undergoing three rounds of chemotherapy, Tom was told to shield during lockdown so he was protected from Covid-19, which meant he had a lot of free time.
Helen said: “It was a big shock, it is like having your car and your house stolen at the same time.
“My husband got home from work at around 10.30pm (September 1) and it was still on the drive.
“I came out in the morning and it was just gone.
“We thought the garage over the road may have come to get it or something. I just couldn’t believe it.
“From the outside it just looks like most vans. So we are confused as to whether it is a van theft or a campervan theft.”
Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident.
The Ford Transit ‘stealth’ campervan, registration number YS65 WWC, has a decal of three mountaintops with a sun rising above them on the side.
A social media campaign launched by the coupld has so far led to “a few potential sightings” in Hyde and Dukinfield.
Helen added: “If we wanted to rebuild it that would not be possible because of the lack of free time we have.
“It is insured but even if we had enough to buy another it would not be the same as it was something Tom built.
“It is not just our future holidays we have lost either, we had plans to go away in October for Tom’s 30th.
“I just don’t like the idea that it has been sold and used by someone else. We just hope that it is intact and is found.”
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