- Ryan Fox was dragged along the road trying to stop two thugs stealing his van
An heroic plumber has told how he is thankful that ‘nothing’s broke’ after dramatic footage of him attempting to stop thieves stealing his van emerged.
Ryan Fox, 30, was at home in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, when he spotted two balaclava-clad raiders stealing his work vehicle from his drive.
Ryan – dressed in a T-shirt and shorts – grabbed the open passenger side door, but the driver continued to pull out into the road and drove away, with the plumber clinging to the white Renault Master.
CCTV footage shows him being dragged for around 12 seconds – with his bare legs connecting with the road surface, until he finally lets go and tumbles away in pain.
Today, a shocked Ryan, who runs Foxward, said neither his brand new Renault nor the thugs who stole it have been traced.
The father-of-one, who is engaged to fiancée Morgan Lee, needed hospital treatment for his injuries and has his legs in bandages.
Despite his injuries he is thankful that ‘nothing’s broke or owt like that’ following his ordeal.
Ryan Fox, 30, was at home in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, when he spotted two balaclava-clad raiders stealing his work vehicle from his drive (pictured is Mr Fox trying to stop the theft)
Shocking footage then captured the moment the father-of-one was dragged along the road as he desperately clung onto his van’s door
Mr Fox, left, said he is glad ‘nothing’s broke’ after his harrowing ordeal. He is pictured with his fiancée Morgan Lee
‘But, I’m not good like,’ he added. ‘I just want to concentrate on getting things back right.
‘I had my van robbed and dragged me half way up road with it.’
He said the Renault Trafic registration plate is YJ24 PWG. It had roof bars on top with a ladder and a cat ladder and a pipe rack.
The two thieves were dressed all in black clothing with orange lines on and they both wore masks.
The theft occurred on Smalldale Road at 7.06am on Tuesday before Ryan started work.
After dragging him along the road. It continued up Hazlebridge Crescent where the passenger jumped out of the stolen vehicle and got into another Renault van, in which they had earlier both arrived, and sped off.
Ryan said: ‘This scumbag wasn’t stopping for anything to get this van. In f***ing agony now.’
Harrowing footage of the incident showed the moment Mr Fox desperately trying to stop the thugs from stealing his prized motor.
Doorbell camera footage showed the young father, dressed in shorts and a blue t-shirt, sprinting to his van and opening the door.
The man then loses his grip and falls to the ground after being dragged along the rough road
But as he reaches the door, his vehicle accelerates off down the drive, leaving him running alongside the van while clinging on and shouting.
Muffled angry screams can be heard as he starts to sprint alongside the van in an attempt to keep up.
CCTV from further down the road shows him clinging on for dear life, having lost his footing and being dragged along the road, before losing his grip.
With his legs and feet scraping along the rough concrete, Mr Fox eventually lets go of the door and tumbles to the floor.
He is almost run over as he lets go of the speeding vehicle rolling on the road as the van races off, its rear tyres almost crushing him.
Thankfully, he can be seen getting to his feet and limping along the road as the van rounds the corner and disappears.
Police are now appealing for information after the man’s terrifying ordeal put him in hospital.
Mr Fox’s fiancée Morgan Lee, added on Facebook: ‘My partner was dragged all the way up Smalldale Road, 12 seconds trying to jump back into the van and now he is injured.’
The van speed away as the man desperately attempted to stop thieves from making off with it
The couple and South Yorkshire Police are appealing for witnesses or any further footage.
A South Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: ‘At 7am on Tuesday (10 September) we received reports of a vehicle theft in Sheffield. It is reported that a van parked on Smalldale Road was stolen.
‘It is believed a person wearing black clothing and a black balaclava entered the vehicle and drove off. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.’
If you have any information, contact the police online or by calling 101, quoting incident number 14/162424
Footage of Mr Fox’s ordeal has been widely shared online, sparking horror on social media.
One said: ‘Shocking. Can’t have owt (sic) these days. That van will probably never been seen again along with his tools.
‘Be right though he’ll just have to pay out for everything. It’s not like the police will be interested.’
Another commented: ‘Taking a hard-working man’s living away from him. Disgusting animals.’
A third wrote: ‘That poor man, his legs are going to be shredded. Hope they catch the thieving b******s.’
A fourth said: ‘Feel for the bloke. They’re nowt (sic) but scum and [there is] no justice when the coppers do catch them.’