ANGRY garage boss Bob Morgan of the Winner Garage in Cinderford wants the thieves who stripped one of his minibuses caught – and he's offering a reward to find them.
"I don't believe there's honour among thieves," he said. "I'm putting up a substantial amount of money and I'm sure it will bring results."
The thieves struck last Monday evening while the garage was locked up for the night and forced their way into the LDV Convoy vehicle which had been professionally coachbuilt for minibus hire.
"It was pretty brazen, really," said Mr Morgan. "I'm quite sure it was local – somebody knew what they wanted and knew where they could get it.
"They stripped it absolutely bare – seats, safety belts, all the nuts and bolts that fixed them in – the lot.
"Without a doubt it is somebody out to convert a van of their own into a minibus. I had just replaced all the seats at around £3,000. I'm tempted to add another £1,000 on top of the reward to break their legs when we find them."
Mr Morgan said he was shocked when he opened his premises in the morning and found the van had been stripped. Another minibus which was nearby had been left completely alone and none of his other commercial hire vehicles had been harmed.
"This was stealing to order," said Mr Morgan. "They got just what they wanted."
The police have been informed and are looking into the matter, but Mr Morgan said anyone with information who wanted to claim the reward could call him on 01594 823121.