A determined van owner injured himself after holding on to the side of his vehicle for some distance while a thief was driving it away.

The 60-year-old man was carrying out work at a property in Craigie Road, Kilmarnock on Saturday, August 27 at around 1.30pm when his work van, a Ford transit flatbed truck, was stolen.

He tried to hold onto the side of the truck as it was being driven away by the suspect.

The van was being driven around the Shortlees area and made its way up towards the roundabout at Knowehead Road with its junction of Treesbank Road before the owner of the van was thrown off.

The vehicle then travelled onto Loreney Drive and Cheviot Place before the suspect fled, leaving the van behind.

The suspect is described as white with short dark hair, and a slim build. He was wearing a white t-shirt and jeans.

The 60-year-old van driver suffered minor cuts and bruising, and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Officers have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries in an effort to find out additional information.

Detective Constable Claire Jack said: “I am appealing to local people in the Shortlees area who may have seen the van when it was being driven around the various streets.  The owner of the van was injured when he tried to prevent the van from being stolen, however, thankfully he was not seriously injured.

There would have been plenty of people around the area at the time of this incident taking place and I’m appealing to anyone who has any information or knowledge regarding the incident or the suspect to contact us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact CID officers at Kilmarnock Police Office on 101. Alternatively, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be giving anonymously.