- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
-
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
@lancstelegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
@blackburnrovers
All the latest news from Blackburn Rovers
@burnleyfc
All the latest news from the Clarets
@lt_blackburn
Latest news from Blackburn
@lt_burnley
Latest news from Burnley
@lt_darwen
Latest news from Darwen
@lt_hyndburn
Latest news from Hyndburn
@lt_pendle
Latest news from Pendle
@lt_ribblevalley
Latest news from Ribble Valley
@lt_rossendale
Latest news from Rossendale
- Find us on Facebook
The Lancashire Telegraph
News, sport and entertainment from all over East Lancashire
Ribchester have-a-go hero tries to stop burglary (From Lancashire Telegraph)
When news happens, text LT and your photos and videos to 80360. Or contact us by email or phone.
Ribchester have-a-go hero tries to stop burglary
9:30pm Monday 12th September 2011 in Ribchester
A HAVE-A-GO hero who tried to stop burglars escaping from his business premises had his van rammed during a high speed getaway.
John Baker, arrived at work to find two burglars trying to steal more than £1,000 worth of property from his engineering firm based at the Bee Mill Business Park in Ribchester.
The two men used boltcutters to remove a padlock on the metal door to enter the industrial unit and steal two Stihl saws, two MAG drills and a Hitachi Grinder at around 10am.
Mr Baker, owner of T B Engineering which manufactures piping, said adrenalin then kicked and he tried to stop the thieves by blocking their getaway vehicle, a white Ford Transit van, with his own Ford van.
He said: "They were already in their van when I got here and I just thought I've got to stop them from getting away.
"So I parked my van in front of theirs and they just drove straight towards me at really high speeds. It was extremely fast and they smacked the front side of my van before speeding off towards Longridge."
Almost three hours after the burglary on Friday the van was discovered on a housing estate in Longridge and all the stolen items were recovered.
Police are investigating the incident and reviewing CCTV footage and DNA evidence found in the unit and the van.
Detective Sergeant Nigel Watson urged any witnesses to come forward.
He said: “If anyone saw any people or vehicles in the area acting suspiciously at the time of the burglary we would like them to get in touch with the police immediately.”
In August, police launched an investigation after an organised gang of youths attempted to break-in to a number of units on the Preston Road business park.
Three youths in dark clothing escaped over some fields behind the park when a burglar alarm was set off.
Anyone with information should call Clitheroe police on 01200 443 344 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
