A STOURTON businesswoman has been reunited with her new gaming van after it was stolen and traced through the power of Facebook.

Julie Evans, who recently set up Gamer Van – a mobile social gaming experience, was distraught when the vehicle she had only recently kitted out with state-of-the-art equipment was stolen in Wombourne last Tuesday (March 6).

The former fleet office manager, who set up the business towards the end of 2017, said: ”It was only sign written on the Tuesday – I picked it up at 10am and it was stolen at 6.30pm.”

However – the timing of the theft was somewhat fortuitous as she added: “The police said the only saving grace was that it was sign written or I never would have got it back.”

Having posted pictures on her Facebook page of the distinctive black van, which boasts a bright mural on the back, social media users were quick to share the images and within days Julie was contacted by a man in London who said he had seen the vehicle parked up in Mitcham, south west London.

After realising it was her van Julie contacted the police and the vehicle was then towed to safety to a compound to be checked over by forensic investigators before it could be collected.

She told the News: “I picked it up from London yesterday and the guy from the compound said ‘I’m so glad you’ve got it back – I’d been following you on Facebook’.

“It was only through the power of the public and Facebook that I was able to get it back - 800 people shared the posts on Facebook for me and it had over 50,000 views.

“The public really pulled together – without them I never would have got it back.”

She said she had been waiting for the van which she rents out for parties to be finished off before advertising the new business, but since it was stolen she has been bombarded with enquiries.