A CAR transporter worth £20,000 and weighing nearly eight tons has been stolen from a van rental company in Swindon.

The transporter was taken from the M4 Self Drive yard in Station Road under cover of darkness.

It was the third break-in there in little more than a week.

A P-registered Ford Iveco 75E15, the transporter is used by the hire firm to collect and carry vans to and from servicing points and for collecting them from manufact-urers.

It was locked away in the hire firm's yard on Saturday evening and was seen being taken at 12.30am on Sunday.

Padlocks on the gates had been wrenched apart.

Paul Dunn, manager of the firm, said: "It is quite a large truck. I would think it would be difficult to hide. This is the first time we have ever had a vehicle stolen, and it looks to me as if it was stolen to order.

"This is the only vehicle of this size that we have and the only one that can carry two vans.

"If we don't get it back it could seriously disrupt our business, especially when we have to start sending out drivers to pick ups by train.

"This is the third time we have been hit by thieves in just over a week.

"Already we have had someone break into the offices and steal a £2,000 laptop and someone broke into our cleaning shed.

"But that was just likely to be kids. Having the truck stolen could quickly affect business."

The company has a similar back- up vehicle, but it only has the capacity to carry one van.

The missing transporter features the Tom Gallagher Van Centre and M4 Van Centre logos. It can be driven without a heavy goods vehicle licence.

The earlier break-ins happened on Saturday, March 22, when the laptop computer was taken, and Monday, March 24, although nothing was taken on that occasion.

Mr Dunn is offering a reward for any information on the whereabouts of the vehicle.

He can be contacted on (07979) 393828.

Swindon police are looking into the matter. They can be contacted on Swindon 528111.