COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. – It took a pizza delivery man two minutes before his car was stolen. It happened Friday evening outside Pizza Man in Columbia Heights.
Liam O’Rourke has been a driver for about three years and says he has never experienced a situation as frightening as this.
“I found 26 deliveries in 3 and 3.5 hours on Friday,” O’Rourke said.
He ran inside to pick up another delivery. Then a customer came in to tell him someone had stolen his 2008 Chevy Malibu.
“Without a car, I’m dead in the water and can’t quite do my job,” O’Rourke said.
Columbia Heights police say a witness saw a man get in the car and leave for Minneapolis on Friday evening. The incident is under investigation.
“This is the way a man earns his paycheck and provides for his family,” said Chris Kolstad, owner of Pizza Man.
For Kolstad, getting O’Rourke back on the road is critical, and the community is taking action as well.
“I’ve had a few regulars say I have a backup if he needs to borrow one,” Kolstad said.
A bond formed through pizza delivery is paying off big time.
“It was a wonderful show of support from our customer base. Without it it would have been a very dark day,” O’Rourke smiled.
If you saw it or have any information, call Columbia Heights Police at (763) 706-8100.
