by Myron Jobson
Jane Murphy, 50, was devastated when she found Bertha, her precious lilac campervan, missing from her driveway at her home in Shepperton.
Desperate to get her beloved tourer back, Jane took to Facebook and started a campaign to appeal for information of its whereabouts. Luckily for her, this story has a happy ending.
The campaign was seen by council worker, Jamie White, who stumbled across pictures of the van on the social networking site, and then later spotted the vehicle on the street and used his car to block it in before calling the police.
Ms Murphy told getsurrey.co.uk: “What a hero. I can’t believe it. I am so happy – I just never thought I would get it back.”
The caravan was taken in the evening on 29 July and was found at midday the next day 10 miles away in the village of Datchet.
The conniving crooks changed the campervan’s number plates, but the inquisitive council worker was able to identify Bertha by her distinctive paint work.
The ‘van, which has been part of the family for 20 years, will be returned to its overjoyed owner after police conclude forensic examinations.
“There are so many memories attached to that van, its value is purely sentimental,” Jane said.
She added: “We are all so pleased that the good guys won for a change and we are going to make sure it happens more often.”
So what of the hero Jamie White, a community warden for the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead?
Jane is planning on meet him face-to-face to extend her gratitude in person – as soon as she gets her precious Bertha back.
