Middlesbrough charity boss puts up £2,000 funeral savings as reward to help find stolen forklift truck

A Middlesbrough charity boss is putting up his £2,000 life savings as reward to anyone who can help find his organisation’s stolen forklift truck.

For 24 years Rod Jones has run Convoy Aid Romania - a charity which exports consignments of donated goods out to north east Romania for those in need between four and five times a year.

But Rod, 68, fears 2014 could have been the last year for the charity after a warehouse break-in some time between December 10 and January 2 resulted in the loss of a forklift truck and other items which are essential for the organisation to operate.

Linde forklift truck which weighs more than 6 tonnes

Almost a month has passed since Rod appealed for anyone with information to come forward - as of yet nobody has.

Now, desperate to get the charity back on track, Rod has put up his life savings as a reward to anyone who can help get his forklift truck back.

“I’ve got just over £2,000 saved up for my funeral - that’s my life savings.

“I’ve buried 24 years of my life into this so I’m prepared to offer £2,000 to anyone who can help us get our forklift truck back.

“It’s just about everything I’ve managed to save. Somebody out there must know where the truck is, they can get in touch very privately either through the police, Crimestoppers or by contacting me directly.”

Cleveland Police are still appealing for information to the burglary at Convoy Aid on Blue House Point Road in Stockton which took place some time between Wednesday December 10 and Friday January 2.

During the raid, thieves sawed through a chain and padlock on the entrance gate, then forced two large doors to the warehouse. Once inside, they stole the Linde forklift truck, which weighs more than six tonnes, as well as a large compressor, an electrical generator and a selection of tools.

Due to the nature their work, Convoy Aid’s forklift truck is an essential for moving pallets onto vehicles.

Speaking on earlier this month, Rod said: “This could wipe us out completely.

“It’s devastating - there’s no big wigs here, nobody makes any money out of it.

“If they knew what damage they’re doing to people who have nothing.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Martin Rowland on 101.