'Getting it back means the world' - Van stolen outside Edinburgh couple’s home is found by police as searches continue for their Audi A6

Student nurse Anna Stephen and her partner, electrician Barry Rodman, were at their home in Mottram Road on Wednesday evening and in the process of moving house to Dundee when the culprits struck.

The white Ford Transit van was taken soon after Mr Rodman dropped the key to his vehicle outside on the street before going inside his house. Later that evening, the couple discovered their black Audi A6 estate car, parked just up the road, had also been taken as the key for it was left inside the van.

Miss Stephen said her partner’s work van, which contained expensive tools, was also packed full with her belongings including a nurse uniform and documents for both her university course and placement at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.

But Miss Stephen received a welcome phone call from police on Thursday night to say they had recovered the stolen van outside East Craigs Primary School.

The 31-year-old said: “Getting the van back means the world.

“The officer said the vehicle seemed in good order and that nothing was burnt out or smashed or anything. They said there were some things in the back of the van, but it was fully packed when we left it. We will be able to see it once it comes out of forensics.

“We have a feeling that because everyone shared the appeal and with help from the media, it was probably not worth them (suspects) trying to do anything further. The Audi is also an easier vehicle to hide.”

A fundraising page was set up by a friend to help pay for some of the stolen tools to help Mr Rodman get to work. The couple will need to wait and see which tools, if any, have been stolen from the van once fingerprinting and DNA sampling is completed.

Miss Stephen said if no tools have been taken, they will either enable refunds for those who kindly donated or ask people if they want to donate their money to charity instead. Miss Stephen is already asking people for charity suggestions.

She added: “We just want to say thank you to everyone for all the shares. We have no doubt that, because of the exposure, that’s why we have been able to get the van back.”

As well as the work tools, moving items inside the van included Miss Stephens’ nurse uniform, shoes and documents for both her degree in child nursing at Dundee University and her current placement at the children’s ward at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.

Mr Rodman, also 31, has been an electrician since his late teens and had recently become self-employed after the company he worked for previously was affected by the Covid pandemic.

The missing black Audi A6 estate car has the registration number SM07 ZTR.

It remains unclear whether the couple will be covered by insurance for any losses but they hope to get some money for the car.

A Police Scotland spokesperson confirmed the van was recovered in the Craigmount area yesterday, adding: “The investigation into the thefts and attempts to recover the Audi car are ongoing."

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