A VAN hijacked at knifepoint near Knutsford was found abandoned in Ince minus its cargo of mobile phones.
The Mercedes Sprinter box van was involved in a minor collision with a black car on the A556 at Mere at about 6pm on Thursday, November 22.
The 40-year-old driver, from the Flint area, pulled over and got out of the vehicle to speak to the car driver.
He was confronted by a passenger who threatened him with a knife and forced him into the car.
The passenger then stole the white-coloured van, which contained a consignment of Nokia mobile phones worth £700.
The van driver was taped up and held hostage for two hours until he was eventually released, still bound, in Well Lane, Antrobus.
There, he managed to raise the alarm by calling at a local house.
He was unhurt, but very badly shaken after his ordeal, which included 'serious threats' from his captors.
Police found his van abandoned at about 11pm at Ince.
Cheshire CID spokesman DC Jez Nasse said: 'We are treating this incident very seriously and are urgently seeking the public's assistance.'
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident.
They also want to speak to anyone who saw a dark- coloured car containing about four people acting suspiciously being driven around the Antrobus area at about 8pm on Thursday.
Police are also keen to hear from anybody who saw the white Mercedes Sprinter van being driven at any point on Thursday night.
There are descriptions of three offenders.
The first is a white man in his early 30s, 6ft 2ins tall and well built. He wore casual clothing and a light-coloured baseball cap.
The second was also white, about 5ft 8ins in height and of stocky build. He is also thought to be in his early 30s and he wore casual clothing and a white baseball cap.
Another offender was a man of mixed race wearing a dark baseball cap. All three had Manchester accents.
* If you can help, telephone Wilmslow police station on 01625 536222 or leave information in confidence on the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.
