Vandals hitting Leo Tudor's used car yard in Cheltenham
LEO Tudor, who owns a used car yard in Cheltenham, said it has been a target for thieves and vandals after it was damaged by fire.
It took fire crews more than two hours to gain control of the blaze which swept through the spot in Lower Mill Street in 2011 after a suspected arson attack.
Nearly 18 months on, Mr Tudor, 78, said he is suffering at the hands of vandals and thieves, with vehicles used by his search and rescue organisation among those targeted.
He said: "People are breaking in and stealing metal. A lot of them are getting in and smashing up vehicles. It's like pouring more oil on the fire."
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Mr Tudor said the windows of three vehicles used by Reach, which stands for Radio Emergency and Cheltenham Help, have been smashed – putting them out of action.
Two are Land Rovers and one is a recovery vehicle which has a crane on the back. He said the windows of a caravan have also been smashed.
"It's going to cost hundreds of pounds to get them repaired. It seems to be that nobody cares about people's loved ones who go missing," he said.
"The vehicles are used by members of Reach to search for people who go missing in places such as Cleeve Hill or Crown Woods, near Stroud.
"Tudor Motors sponsors the search and rescue, which we have had for the last 42 years.
"We have got two other vehicles which we use which members have," he added.
Mr Tudor said the problems began after fire swept through the property during a night in March 2011.
At its height, about 80 firefighters from across the county fought the blaze and it was more than six hours before it was extinguished.
Thousands of tonnes of metal, tyres and second-hand car parts went up in flames in the incident and Mr Tudor's dog, Sparki, was killed.
The 10-year-old Labrador cross was buried in the yard wrapped in a T-shirt bearing the logo of Reach.
Mr Tudor says work to clear up the site is still going on.
"It will take another year to get the yard in shape.
"We have got to clear it all out.
"There are cars burnt out and axles burnt out.
"There is a lot of fire rubble, seeing it brings the night of the fire back," he said.
Gloucestershire police said it is treating the fire as suspected arson.
No arrests have yet been made in connection to the fire.
The force confirmed three thefts were reported at the site last year and this year reports of windscreens of three vehicles being smashed.
Comments
by Matt1006
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 3:38PM
“supernova1 - given the high costs of scrap metal, you'd have thought they'd be no end of dealers interested in helping Mr. Tudor clear the mess up, obviously at a price. Maybe he's had a number of approaches already, and told them to clear off (politely, or otherwise). Burnt-out cars and axles (as noted) surely have no use apart from exercising the machinery in a larger scrapyard, so why haven't these pieces of scrap already been cleared?
And regarding the search and rescue vehicles, I've always thought that keeping them in a scrapyard (now a largely fire-gutted scrapyard) is a strange location for such specialist and important vehicles? If they are so vital, and are currently out of action due to the apparent vandalism inflicted on them, perhaps their current storage location is wholly unsuitable? But perhaps Mr. Tudor either can't afford to pay rent on a suitable lock-up, or just can't find anywhere suitable (which I doubt given how many empty tin sheds there are around the town).”
by SamYuan
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 2:45PM
“3 vehicles for search and rescue missions on Cleve and Crown woods??? Am I missing something? Are they called into use often? Do the police and rescue services regularly ask for Mr Tudors obviously expert help in these searches?
I once saw one of these vehicles on the road. Now, I desperatley hope that I never come to regret these words... But If it ever transpires that I am lost and in need of rescuing... Who you gonna' call???...... not Mr Tudor, please.
I think I would prefer the trained proffesionals to come and look for me. Thanks.”
by supernova1
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 2:16PM
“Matt I agree. If it was a house or a retail property, someone would have enforced some sort of clear up.
Given that before the fire, it was scrap, and after the fire, it's errrrr.......scrap, I can't see how it isn't all just handed over to one of the many scrap dealers in the county.
And as for keeping any sort of 'high tec' response units on the property, well sorry, he must be bonkers.”
by Matt1006
Tuesday, August 21 2012, 1:41PM
“As 18 months (is it that long already?) have passed since the fire, perhaps it is more than about time that Mr. Tudor got the mess & debris finally cleared up. The shell of the gutted building is still standing - I recall reading in the aftermath of the fire that this structure (structurally unsafe?) would be demolished. But it's still there now.
Alternatively, perhaps he needs to make his property more secure to stop thieves / vandals from getting in. But to do so will probably cost a fair few quid, so perhaps it's a matter of money. But then it's a vicious circle.”