Snodland tradesman who runs Lawry Paving and Landscaping devastated by theft of truck, digger and tools
A self-employed tradesman says his family business has been "ripped apart" after a group of thieves stole his truck, digger and all his tools. Lee Lawry, who runs a small groundwork and landscaping business in Snodland[1], called Lawry Paving and Landscaping, had come home early with a sickness bug on Monday.
For the first time ever, he left his digger attached to the truck and his tools locked inside it. That night, it was all taken.
"I've never left it all outside before," Lee said. "But I was so ill, I just parked up and went straight to bed. I didn't even unload. "My partner Aimee was still up when she heard a noise.
She looked out and said, 'I think your truck just went past' -- and she was right." Footage from a neighbour's CCTV shows the truck being driven off around 11.30pm. It appears four men used torches and headlights to blind the cctv cameras.
Lee believes the thieves were professionals. "They knew exactly what they were doing -- high beams on, fog lights, torches aimed at the lens. Within seconds, it was gone," he said. "They clearly knew how to handle an old Transit."
Lee called police immediately and gave chase. But by the time officers responded, the van had vanished down country lanes near Barming and Ryarsh.
He said police may have unknowingly passed the thieves on the road as they were escaping.
The worst part, he says, is knowing it could have been prevented. "I know people will say it should've all been insured, but when you're building a business from scratch, you just try to get by.
I've only been going two years. You buy one tool here, another there, and suddenly it's everything. All gone."
The couple also recalled a suspicious van that came by earlier that evening, posing as a scrap collector but taking nothing. Lee said he didn't want to point fingers without proper evidence, but admitted the man's behaviour seemed unusual. They managed to record its registration and have passed it to police.
Lee's partner Aimee Philips, who works as a carer for elderly clients and a neurodivergent family, said: "Lee doesn't even own a shovel now. He's heartbroken. I feel useless."
"We've been driving around day and night looking for the truck, thinking it might be stashed somewhere while they wait to see if it's tracked."
To help the family recover, Aimee's mother set up a JustGiving page without them knowing.[2] The couple initially felt embarrassed but there has been an outpouring of support from the community as many remembered how, not long ago, Aimee helped raise money for another local family after their young son Henry was hit by a car.[3]
Lee added: "My grandad offered to lend me money to hire something short-term, just so I can finish the jobs I've already booked. "I've got one customer with a hole in front of their house, they've been amazing, really understanding."
The stolen vehicle is believed to have been seen in the Park Wood area of Maidstone the following day.
Lee, who has years of experience in utilities and landscaping, hopes the publicity will make the equipment "too hot to handle". "Everyone's been so supportive, friends, old clients, even strangers.
"If it helps someone else stay alert, that's something. "It's not just the truck -- it's everything," he said. "You build it up bit by bit, and suddenly it's all gone."
Police confirmed they were called at around 11.35pm on Monday, June 9, to a report that a tipper truck carrying a digger and tools had been stolen from outside a property in Apple Close, Snodland. A spokesman said officers attended and carried out a thorough search of the area but were unable to locate the stolen vehicles. Inquiries into the incident are ongoing.
There have been no arrests.
References
- ^ Snodland (www.kentonline.co.uk)
- ^ Aimee's mother set up a JustGiving page without them knowing. (www.justgiving.com)
- ^ their young son Henry was hit by a car. (www.kentonline.co.uk)