COVENTRY MESSAGE BOARD

A Coventry landscaper has been left devastated after a cruel thief stole his work truck with his beloved pet dog inside.



Paul Hindmarsh, 45, who runs The Complete Landscape Company, was working with his son Tommy, 20, on a job in Park Gate, Holbrooks, when his blue Ford Transit tripper was stolen on Friday.

Brave Tommy managed to jump on to the back of the truck as the thief sped off but was eventually thrown off, escaping with cuts and bruises.

Sadly, the family’s 12-year-old Jack Russell terrier, called Berry, was trapped inside and now Paul is desperate to get her back.

“That dog has been with me for 12 years and is part of my family. She comes everywhere with me,” he said.

“She is with me in that truck day in and day out. She is such a loving, friendly dog. I could not have had a better companion over the years and I cannot believe she has been taken away from us like this.

“I want to let whoever stole my truck know that I don’t care about it. Keep it, but please show you have some decency and return Berry to us. Show us you can do that, at least.”

He added: “Everything was in the van. My cheque cards plus a lot of cash. They’ve hit the jackpot stealing it so they should be in a good mood. I’m just hoping that will mean they treat the dog better. It’s so upsetting to think she’s locked up somewhere, frightened, and pining for us.”

Paul and Tommy, of Allesley Village, had been working in the front garden of a house at lunchtime on Friday when they saw a man in the truck.

Tommy said: “I managed to get a good look at the guy. He was white, about 5ft 11in and of medium build and was wearing a high visibility jacket, although he had an average-looking face.

“I could not see more before I was thrown off into the path of an oncoming car. Luckily for me, it stopped in time. But I don’t care about my injuries I just want the dog back. That is the priority.”

Berry is well known to Paul’s customers and many have been in contact trying to help.

He said: “I cannot believe how many clients have got in touch to offer help and I know that loads of people have been out overnight searching for her. I’m really touched by that.”

The missing van, registration BL03 ZNM, has the words The Complete Landscape Company and distinctive pink flowers painted on the side.

Anyone with information should call West Midlands police on 0345 113 5000 or contact Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.

Jack Russell Berry home safe after stolen van ordeal



A MUCH loved dog has been reunited with her family after a terrifying ordeal.

Jack Russell Berry was inside owner Paul Hindmarsh’s work van when it was stolen by a cold-hearted thief who drove off at high speeds.

Paul, 45, who runs The Complete Landscape Company, was working with his son Tommy, 20, on a job in Parkgate Road, Holbrooks on Friday lunchtime when his van, containing all his work tools, cards and cash, as well as Berry was stolen.

Tommy managed to jump onto the back of the van and hang on for several minutes before being thrown off, suffering cuts and bruises.

Despite losing so much Paul said he was only upset about Berry, who accompanied him on all his jobs and was known and loved by all his customers.

Heartbroken Paul spent the next three days searching high and low for her and the Telegraph featured his story on Monday.

Thankfully he has now been reunited with his pet after a woman saw the story and called him.

“The woman said she had found Berry sat in an alleyway not long after the van had gone missing so they had obviously put her out on the road and then driven off,” said Paul, of Allesley Village.

“Berry is a really friendly dog so she jumped straight into the lap of the lady who was in a mobility scooter and the woman took her home.

“She took Berry to the Nuneaton and Bedworth dog warden who put her in kennels and she spent the entire weekend there while we were all out looking for her.

“After they saw the story in Monday’s paper the lady called me and told me where Berry was.”

Since Friday, Paul has received hundreds of messages from people who wanted to help find Berry.

He added: “I thought the lady was just a hoax at first but one of my customers forced me to go and drove me to the kennels because I refused.

"I had almost given up on finding her again but I am glad I went now. I was just amazed we had found her.

“Berry is just a part of me. All my customers know her. She sits with me all day at home and at work, she sleeps in my bed, we go on holiday and to football together and I am over the moon she’s back.

"She’s never even been in kennels before so it must have been a strange experience for her.

“I know it is only a dog but over the weekend I searched day and night for her. It was exhausting. I can’t thank everyone enough for looking for her and without the Telegraph’s help I doubt I would have got her back.

“She’s back at work with me now sitting in the garden as if nothing ever happened. My tools and van are still missing but it’s all back to normal.”

Paul’s missing van is a blue Ford Transit tipper, registration BL03 ZNM, and has the words The Complete Landscape Company, on the side. Anyone with information can call Coventry Police on 0345 113 5000.