Pensioner flung into the road as caravan is stolen

A Radcliffe pensioner preparing to set off on holiday was left with a broken arm after an opportunistic thief stole his car and caravan.

Rodney Rew, 70, was thrown across the road as he attempted to connect his £12,000 four-berth German caravan to the back of his four-wheel drive car.

Mr Rew, who was preparing to head to Santander in north-west Spain for a family trip, was left in agony as the thief commandeered both vehicles and drove off.

He told the Manchester Evening News: "Everything was in the car. Passports, wallets, about £300 cash, tickets and my wife's handbag. We were going to drive to Plymouth and get the ferry.

"Now I'm left sitting at home with a broken arm, no holiday, no car, no passport and nowhere to go.

"We're going to have to spend the next few days cancelling credit cards."

Mr Rew had a stroke of fortune when the thief abandoned the caravan as he struggled to tow it, not knowing that he needed to activate a remote control device in the car.

The caravan was recovered, but the episode underlines the importance of possessing a comprehensive caravan insurance policy to protect against such unforeseen scenarios.

A spokesman for Greater Manchester police confirmed that the theft is under investigation.

14/07/2008 16:52:36