UPDATE: VAN RECOVERED
Police in Edinburgh are appealing for information after a food charity’s delivery van was stolen in Leith.
The white Ford Transit van, one of two main delivery vehicles belonging to social enterprise Edinburgh Community Food, was taken sometime between 1.30pm on Monday, 9 August, and 6am on Tuesday, 10 August, when it was parked on Tennant Street.
The van, registration number SH12 XVO, is distinctive with a large strawberry logo on the sides and rear with the words – edinburgh community food – clearly written on it. (van pictured below is not the stolen vehicle but shows the logo)
Sergeant Elaine McArthur Kerr, of Leith police station, said: “Edinburgh Community Food relies on its vans to deliver to people and businesses in the city and this theft is a shameful act given that it obviously belongs to a charity.
“Edinburgh Community Food delivers fresh fruit and vegetables to people on low incomes and sells it to staff, patients and visitors in city hospitals. This theft has left them seriously inconvenienced and having to hire a replacement.
“Our enquiries are ongoing to trace the van and we are appealing to anyone who may have seen it since it went missing to get in touch. If you can assist please contact us on 101, quoting incident 0689 of Tuesday, 8 August, 2021, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Edinburgh Community Food CEO Brenda Black, said: “We need the van to deliver essential fresh food supplies to isolated people throughout Edinburgh.
“We spent the pandemic making sure the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh got food and essentials to keep them going through the worst of times.
“We continue to deliver food to families, communities and other organisations who really need them but this theft has halved our capacity.”
Let’s hope this vehicle is returned to it’s owners without delay.
UPDATE: VAN FOUND – THURSDAY 12 AUGUST
Officers in Edinburgh can confirm that a food charity’s delivery van which was stolen in the Leith area of the city has been recovered.
The white Ford Transit van, one of two main delivery vehicles belonging to social enterprise Edinburgh Community Food, has been traced to the Newhaven area and enquiries are ongoing to find out how it got there.
Sergeant Elaine McArthur Kerr, of Leith police station, said: “Fortunately the van has been traced as a direct result of our appeal and I would like to thank everyone who responded to it.
“However, enquiries are ongoing to find out how it got there and we continue to appeal for information. I would ask anyone who saw the white Ford Transit with its distinctive large strawberry logo between 1.30pm on Monday, 9 August, and noon on Thursday, 12 August, to get in touch.
“If you can assist please contact us on 101, quoting incident 0689 of Tuesday, 8 August, 2021, or make a call anonymously to the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”