Frustration as Land Rover is stolen after Shropshire man's restoration project
A man who has spent six weeks doing up his Land Rover has had it stolen – just days after the restoration was complete.
Norman Orpe had lavished time and money on restoring the vehicle, but four days after bringing the vehicle back home it was taken.
He said: "I have always parked the vehicle on the drive and so naturally returned to parking it there when I had completed the restoration.
"Then last Wednesday, at just before 4am, one of my neighbours called me to say it had been stolen.
"They heard it start up and drive away and realised that was far too early in the morning for me to be using it.
"I rang the police straight away and they were round here very quickly, now it is just a case of waiting and hoping it is found."
The 69-year-old, of Danford Heath in Claverley, has owned the Land Rover for 10 years. He bought it to replace his pick-up and said he found it a great vehicle for use in rural areas.
He said he found it strange that after 10 years of parking it in the same place, it was stolen only a few days after it had been restored.
He said: "There have been quite a few thefts in the village lately and I know other Land Rovers have been stolen.
"You don't always hear about these things and I only found out about these other thefts by talking to people in the village.
"It is very annoying to have it taken, I am now relying on wife to let me borrow her car and hoping the Land Rover is returned to me.
Mr Orpe added: "I am prepared to offer a small reward to anyone who provides information that leads to me getting my vehicle back."
The Land Rover that was taken is a blue, short wheel base Series Three model, with a canvas roof, a two and a quarter litre diesel engine and carrying the registration XDW 511K. Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
