A DPD delivery van was one of a number of vehicles hijacked in Derry this week
Paul Leonard’s vehicle was one of a number hijacked in a spate of incidents in the city over three days this week.
His van was taken in the Glenowen area of the city at about 4.45 pm on Tuesday and later found burnt out.
The DPD driver said he was approached by two masked men who instructed him to hand over the keys to his van.
“They snatched the keys from me and told me they were from the IRA and they were taking the van,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
“It was just a shock at the time, I have often said if I came across this I would react, but to be honest it hit me totally unaware.
“It was so surreal, I stood for a minute or two afterward and thought: ‘My van’s away.'”
It is not just his livelihood that has gone, added Mr Leonard.
“I had a lot of personal belongings in that van.
“One of the things I had in that van was a picture of my dead grandson.
“I will never get that back again.”
He said it was “deplorable that these people are ruining people’s livelihoods”.
Those responsible need to “get a life, and get off the backs of the people of Derry,” he said.
Charlie Kelly of the Communications Workers Union said Royal Mail had suspended services to Glenowen, Creggan, Ballymagroarty and Galliagh.
An abandoned Royal Mail van sparked a security alert in the city’s Creggan area on Monday.
“I do not know how this is going to be resolved,” he told BBC Radio Foyle.
He said services could not resume until staff were assured about their safety.
Derry’s Mayor Brian Tierney says a crowd of around 150 people gathered in the Galliagh area of the city on Wednesday night
There were a number of further incidents in the city on Wednesday night, as police officers were attacked by youths throwing petrol bombs during a security alert on the city’s Skeoge Road.
The Mayor of the city, Brian Tierney, said a number of vehicles had been targeted during antisocial behaviour in Galliagh, which he described as “totally, totally unacceptable”.
“There were at least 150 people on the street, that was really worrying, not all of those people were engaged in antisocial behaviour, some were spectating.”
He said such a large crowd “encourages young people to put on a show for them”.
“People in the area must be allowed to live in peace,” he added.
Police have appealed for anyone with any information about the hijackings to contact them.
They said three vehicles were hijacked in the Creggan estate, Glenowen Park and Ballymagroarty on Tuesday.
In the first incident, a van was hijacked in Rathlin Drive at 3.55 pm and set alight a short distance away.
A second van was hijacked 50 minutes later in Glenowen Park, then a bus on Aileach Road at 5.15 pm.
It was set alight, but quickly extinguished.
Speaking about the incidents last night and in recent days, Derry & Strabane District Commander, Chief Superintendent Emma Bond said: “This has been the third night of disorder in our city at the hands of cowards determined to cause disruption in our communities.
“It is unacceptable and I am very disappointed people made a deliberate decision to go out onto the streets and cause trouble.
“Yesterday, the world’s media was focused on the city as John Hume was laid to rest.
“The scenes in our communities last night are not representative of this city.
Police at scene of security alert in Derry on Wednesday
“I am urging those who have been engaged in this recent violence, and anyone tempted to become involved in this type of criminal behaviour, to stop and consider the consequences of their actions, and desist immediately.
“I would also urge anyone, including those who gathered to watch this disorder last night to understand this is not entertainment.
“This is dangerous, reckless activity, which has a significant impact on not only the people whose vehicles were targeted, but also on the local communities.
“I want to finish by thanking the community and elected representatives who worked last night to engage with those involved to leave the area.
“I would continue to ask those in the community to continue to use their influence to help us maintain control of the situation so we don’t have another night of disorder and our communities don’t come under attack again.
“We have gathered evidence in relation to these incidents and are working to identify those responsible and those involved and we can assure the public we will be working towards making arrests.
“Our priority is keeping people safe.
“I want to reassure the people of this city that our response, should there be any further disorder, will continue to be proportionate and we will deploy the necessary resources to detect and deter those responsible.”
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