Thieves have struck again at Emmaus Salford, stealing another van less than 18 months after the theft of the last one.
Emmaus Salford supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a stable home, meaningful work and support for as long as they need it. Whilst at Emmaus, companions – the name given to the people we support – gain skills, experience and confidence by working within our charity’s social enterprise and Lucie’s Pantry social supermarket.
The stolen van is not only used to collect and deliver furniture for Emmaus Salford’s charity shops, but also to deliver food and household essentials to vulnerable residents across Salford. We are appealing for help to find the van, stolen from our Pendleton community base on Sunday morning.
The large, white Ford Transit Luton van had green Emmaus Salford stickers on the sides and back. Anyone who has spotted the van or has any information is urged to call the Police on 101 and quote crime reference number CRI/06FF/000841122. Alternatively, you can contact CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A real blow
Jackie Smith, Business Development Manager at Emmaus Salford, said: “We are devastated to find another of our vans stolen at such a busy time for our charity.
“We had lots of collections, deliveries and house clearances booked in and have had to hire a van at great expense to fulfill our bookings. Emmaus Salford is still recovering from the multiple lockdowns and loss of income over the past two years, so this theft is a real blow to the hard work our team has put in since restrictions were lifted.”
“I urge everyone to keep a look out and call the Police on 101 if you have any information which may help us find our missing van.”
Emmaus Salford generates the majority of income from its social enterprise which includes three charity shops. The stolen van had a tail-lift and played an essential role in collecting donations and delivering sold items to customers. If the stolen van cannot be found, Emmaus Salford faces a large bill to fund a suitable replacement, due to the rising prices of second-hand vehicles.
If you can, please make a donation to help us cover the costs of van hire.