ORPINGTON: Reward offered after rare fire engine theft (From News Shopper)

ORPINGTON: Reward offered after rare fire engine theft

7:30am Friday 16th October 2009 in Bromley By Scott Mullins

A DESPERATE family are offering a cash reward in an effort to retrieve rare brass fittings stolen from their prized 1930s fire engine.

Thieves broke into a garage in Orpington earlier this month and stripped the solid brass petrol cap, radiator cap, bell and search lamp off a 1937 Leyland Cub fire engine.

The owners of the antique items brought the red engine to Orpington from Swanley 15 years ago and have left it in the capable hands of their handyman Ralph Elwell.

The 64-year-old said: “It is depressing. I think there is only three or four engines like it in the whole country.

“It is in complete working order and everything works.

“our main concern is the thieves have taken the lamp and bell.

“It takes a lot of time and effort to maintain the fire engine and it’s priceless - it’s our baby.

“We are so passionate about it.

“Whoever did this must have known what they were doing.”

Police say the value of the stolen fixtures totalled around £2,000 and were taken sometime between October 2 and October 7.

The family who own the engine want to remain anonymous but have put up a £1,000 reward for information leading to the rare brass features being returned intact.

Without the radiator cap Mr Elwell says the fire engine, complete with an original ladder, can not be started.

He added: “I am just hoping we can get these bits back.

“The bell used to sound lovely when we rang it.”

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the stolen items should call Bromley police on 01689 891212.