High Peak pensioner couple urge vigilance after Land Rover Defender theft

Chris and Pam Manley’s 2004 TD5 Station Wagon - known affectionately by their grandchildren as ‘Landy’ - was stolen from their driveway as they slept on Tuesday night this week.

Worryingly, the thieves who stole it cut the handbrake cable on the couple’s VW Polo - parked right up against the Land Rover to secure it - in order to drive the stolen car away.

Shaken Pam told how - climbing into the Polo for the first time since the theft on Thursday - it rolled backwards down a hill towards her neighbour’s house but she managed to hit the brake pedal just in time.

Former teacher Pam, 71, said the workhorse vehicle was one of four stolen around Buxworth and Chinley in the last few months.

Speaking about her close shave in the Polo Pam told how after speaking to a garage mechanic she was told the criminals had used an angle-grinder to cut the handbrake.

She said: “It’s an awful, very personal feeling - I didn’t want to use my Polo at all after seeing it had been moved.

“If someone has the audacity to use an angle-grinder they’re probably professionals.

“It would be marvellous if we could get it back however with the Covid scenario I hardly think this will be top of the police’s list of priorities.

“It’s highly likely that it’ll be far away now - even in another country - or being dismantled for parts.”

Mum-of-two Pam said she wanted to warn others so they could take steps to avoid having their Land Rover stolen.

The couple’s daughter Jennifer said: “My parents have been in self-isolation all year and with winter coming the Land Rover is their way to access the shops in the tricky weather and steep roads where they live.”

It is understood a van was stolen from nearby Dove Holes the night before the couple’s Land Rover was stolen – it was seen heading towards Glossop with another Land Rover.

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