A JOINER’S transit van was stolen only to be recovered 30 minutes later near his mother’s bakery shop.

Two men were caught on CCTV breaking into the van of former Accrington cricket captain Jimmy Hayhurst on York Street in the town.

The van, which is six years old, was then recovered 100 yards away from his mother’s bakery, G&E, in Elm Close, Haslingden.

Jimmy, who owns plastic manufacturer Ark Plastics Limited in Accrington, said: “Two men walked up to the van and broke in. They got into the van and drove off.

“At first I thought I just moved it and forgot where I put it and then the next thing I realised it has been stolen.

“There were thousands of pounds of items stored in the van including my iPad.

“I was with my colleague and after phoning the police I tried to track the vehicle.

“My iPad was in the van and I tried to track it using my phone.” The tablet was later found on Eastgate, opposite the Castle Pub, Accrington.

Mr Hayhurst added: “About 30 minutes later the van was found by my father. He spoke to me on the phone five minutes before and I told him my van has been nicked and said can you get here to give me a lift?

“Then, five minutes later, he rang me again and said that, as he set off, for home he saw the vehicle parked around the corner from my mother’s shop. We then phoned the police again and I turned up with a colleague to the scene about an hour after the incident first took place.”

Repair work, which will cost hundreds of pounds, will include upgrading the van’s locks and the repairing damage to the locks inside.

Police said: “A van was reportedly stolen shortly before 3pm on Tuesday and subsequently recovered a short time later in Elm Close, Haslingden.

“Anyone with information should call police on 101.”

Mr Hayhurst, 33, said: “We hear about this type of crime a lot.

“I am amazed there is not more investment from car manufacturers to make these vehicles more secure.”