Delivery driver’s van stolen after he was thrown into a hedge

A WELL-KNOWN delivery driver for north Cardiff was thrown into a hedge and had his van stolen while out delivering parcels during lockdown.

Richard Hill, 71, was attacked from behind by two men in broad daylight in Whitchurch on Monday morning.

The pensioner, who is a part-time driver, said the men ripped the keys from his hands before making off in the silver van with 86 undelivered parcels inside.

Left bruised and shaken, Mr Hill was forced to walk home because his phone was in the van and he couldn’t call anyone.

But the “strong character”, who is a familiar sight in north Cardiff, was undeterred and borrowed a family car to complete more deliveries less than 24 hours later.

Mr Hill was making deliveries in Ash Grove at around 9.30am when the two men pounced on him as he dropped off a parcel. They pushed him into a hedge before jumping into the van. The force of their attack ripped the gloves he was wearing to protect himself from coronavirus.

His silver Fiat was found hours later in Pentrebane and was towed away by police. All the parcels had been ripped open and the boxes were empty, Mr Hill said.

“They must have watched me as I walked down the path,” Mr Hill said.

“I’ve been up and down that road quite a bit in the last few weeks. It makes me feel angry and cross. Why pick on people at the moment?

“Why would anyone want to rob from innocent people who are just trying to do their job?”

Although close family suggested Mr Hill quit his deliveries during lockdown, he would “have none of it”, said relative Ian Francis.

“He asked if he could borrow the car on Tuesday so he could carry on,” Mr Francis said.

“Richard said he couldn’t let people down and told me: ‘If I stay inside, I won’t go out again’.

“He’s quite a strong character and he’s determined he won’t let these people beat him.

“Without people like Richard, others would have to go out during lockdown.”

Mr Hill gives up a lot of his time to help out with the visually impaired through the VIP Lounge. Twice a year, he volunteers to drive their minibus so people with a sight impairment could enjoy holidays with their friends.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said they were investigating a robbery of a delivery driver in Ash Grove, Rhiwbina.

He said: “Officers have been carrying out house to house enquiries and checking CCTV to identify those responsible.”

Anyone with information on this incident should contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting occurrence number *0115445.