A grieving family have been left devastated after the van of a relative who recently died was stolen just months after his other vehicle went missing.
Huw Roach passed away at the age of 59 just two days before Christmas from heart disease.
The Aberdare man had worked at GEs in Nantgarw for decades since leaving school at the age of 16, but had spent the last 10 years as a removal man alongside his brother and nephew, who also deliver calor gas to the local area.
In September, Huw's van was stolen from outside his home in Cardiff Road in Aberaman. He purchased a second van before his death, but the vehicle suffered the same fate on January 7, just two weeks after his death.
Huw's nephew, Gareth Gunning, has been left devastated by the death of his uncle, who had no partner or children, and hoped to continue the family business with the van his uncle had recently purchased.
"He had heart disease but he has been ill for a while. They told him he was going to die last year and he pulled through it. My mother (Huw's sister) and Auntie are devastated.
"He was a true gentleman, he was very bubbly and had his own sense of humour. He was always happy and very generous. I have worked with him for years. All the kids love him, lots of people like him, he was a very likeable man."
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Huw lived in the same house all his life, it having been his parent's home that he shared with his brother Nigel before his death.
Gareth and his family are currently self-isolating due to Gareth having coronavirus. They have had to delay the funeral as a result.
"All our work has been put on hold now as we don't have the vehicle to carry it out. We just want it back," said Gareth.
"On the CCTV it shows two men going into the van somehow and it is gone within seconds. We are having nothing but bad luck."
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Huw's brother Nigel worked with the two men who have another vehicle that delivers calor gas to the local area.
A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "We can confirm that overnight between 7 th and 8 th of January, a white Ford Transit van was stolen from outside the owner’s address in Cardiff Road, Aberdare.
"Anybody who may have information about the theft is urged to contact 101 and give reference *007720.
"Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
