A rare vintage moped stolen from Pitlochry had recently been gifted to a teenager by his grandfather.
Neil Cowan bought the 1976 Puch Falco as a wreck around 15 years ago and painstakingly rebuilt it before touring as far afield as Germany in its saddle.
In October his 17-year-old grandson Joseph Walker was handed the keys and anticipated using the distinctive orange vehicle over the summer season.
The moped had been stored in the back of a Transit van, which was taken from Strathview Terrace last week in what Mr Cowan believes was an opportunistic theft.
The 86-year-old said: “The Puch being in the back was coincidental. It would appear, from what the police have told me, that their (the thieves) van was giving them problems and they set fire to it.
“They were looking for another van and it’s been unlucky that it’s been mine, and even more unlucky that the moped was in the back. They were after the van, but they got a bonus.”
He added he had been preparing the moped for use by his grandson.
“He’s just turned 17 and the registration was handed over to him. He lives in Edinburgh so it’s been sitting up here and I got it MOT’d to get it ready for the season.”
Mr Cowan said the loss of the Puch had hit him hard as he and the bike had shared a long history.
He said: “I bought it about 15 years ago as a wreck. It was up Glen Doll and was advertised in the newspaper. It was a bit of a mess but the price was right so I went for it and it’s been totally refurbished.
“In the time I’ve had it, it’s been out to west Germany. We ran a van down to Hull and then shoved it on a boat and then rode all out to Germany – a little group of us.
“It’s a bike I’ve had and had a lot of fun on it and I’m devastated (by it’s theft).”
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “A blue Ford Tansit van, registration mark 9285 NC, was stolen from Strathview Terrace Pitlochry between Sunday March 24 and Monday March 25.
“The van contained an orange Puch moped, registration mark LSP 339P.”
