Man clings to stolen truck for several miles after it is driven off with family's Jack Russell in the cab

A Coventry family has been left distraught after a cold-hearted thief stole a truck with their beloved family dog inside. Landscaper Paul Hindmarsh, 45, and his son Tommy, 20, were working on a job in Coventry on Friday afternoon when the thief struck in broad daylight and sped off with his 12-year-old Jack Russell called Berry. Tommy gave chase and managed to jump on the back of the blue Ford transit tipper and hang on for his life as the crazed robber swerved through traffic to make his getaway. His dad Paul flagged down a passing motorist and asked him to follow the stolen truck but they eventually lost it after a high-speed chase.

His son Tommy managed to cling on for a few miles but was eventually thrown off at some traffic lights and was lucky to escape with just scratches and bruises to his shoulder. The distraught landscaper has pleaded with the thief to give the family dog back. Fighting back the tears, he said: “I don’t care about my truck, I don’t care about my business or my money – all I care about is my dog Berry. That dog has been with me for 12 years and is part of my family, she comes everywhere with me.



“She is with me in that truck day in and day out and we are the best of mates. She is such a loving, friendly dog I could not have had a better companion over the years and I cannot believe she has been taken away from us like this. I want to let whoever stole my truck know that I don’t care about it, keep it, but please show you have some decency and return Berry to us. Show us you can do that at least. Everybody loved Berry, she was such a popular dog and everybody loved seeing her when we went on jobs. We are just desperate to get her back.”

Mr Hindmarsh’s son, Tommy, revealed he felt lucky to alive after clinging to the back of the truck but insisted he would do it all again if it meant he could get the dog back. He said: “I managed to get a good look at the guy, he was white, about 5ft 11in and of medium build and was wearing a hi-viz jacket although he had an average-looking face. I could not see more before I was thrown off into the path of an oncoming car but luckily for me is stopped in time. But I don’t care about my injuries I just want the dog back - that is the priority.”