A MILKMAN of more than 30 years who serves 650 customers across Barnsley has defied callous yobs who stole his milk van while he was out delivering.
Pete Watson was devastated when he dropped off some milk in Bond Road, Barnsley, and returned to the road to find his van had vanished.
Pete, 56, of Lugano Grove, Darfield, considered ending his career when the van, which contained the milk, money, his phone and presents from customers was stolen.
But, spurred on by his son, Pete opted to buy a new van, and has since returned to his round which covers Silkstone and Penistone, Barnsley, Barugh Green and Worsbrough.
He said: “I was delivering milk as usual and as I have done on that street for more than 30 years. I leave the van running and just bob over the street to drop off the milk. “At one house I went half way down a ginnel to drop off the milk and when I came back, the van had disappeared.
“I didn’t see it or hear it. I was walking back down the ginnel within two or three seconds.
“It was unbelievable. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life. I’m still getting over the shock.
“I’ve been a milkman for more than 30 years down that street. It’s a nice area and I’ve never had anything like this. It made me feel like giving up. After 30 years of nothing going wrong, it took away my livelihood.”
At first, Pete said he thought his friend who lived at the bottom of the street had taken it for a laugh. But when he realised he hadn’t, Pete knew it had been stolen.
He said police believe someone had been watching him, possibly for a period of time.
“I’ve not heard from the police. I rang and they said they hadn’t heard anything as yet. Then I got to know some vans had been found in Wombwell and I contacted police to see if one was mine. But it wasn’t.
“The police said it’s probably been shipped away and will be on the continent, or in someone’s garage in parts.”
Pete said the van was coming up to three years old, and had been bought on finance. He still owed £14,000. He then forked out £9,000 for a new van to continue his rounds.
“I’ve lost £23,000, plus what was in the van. I couldn’t claim off the insurance because I had left the keys in the van and left it running. They said if I’d have had the keys in my pocket, then I could have claimed. But I told the truth.
“I said I’d left the keys in for 30 years and never had a problem.
“The day it was stolen, I said I was done, finished. My son said I could use his work van for a bit, so I decided to finish the week off. Then I went and bought a new van and I’ve been back on the rounds ever since. I’ve just carried on as normal, as best I can.
“And yes, I take the keys out now. And I’m going to have a tracker fitted on this van too.”
