BLOOMSBURG — A self-employed heating and air conditioning contractor got up for work Friday only to look outside and discover someone had stolen his work van with all his tools inside, town police said.

Scott Knudsen, 50, routinely locks up his 2008 Ford Econoline van “wherever I go,” he said. And he did so Thursday evening when he parked it outside his residence in the 400 block of West Pine Avenue around 7 p.m.

But when he left his home for his first job about 7:30 a.m. Friday, the van was missing. 

He immediately notified police who circulated a Crimewatch notification online, and alerted local news outlets as well as other law enforcement agencies within a 99-mile radius.

But as of noon, it hadn’t yet been spotted.

The 2008 E-150 Ford Econoline van is white in color and has distinctive maroon advertising letters on the sides and back reading “Knudsen’s HVAC Sales & Service” with the phone number 570-336-4983.

Knudsen said he’s been in business for 25 years and works primarily for local student housing landlords but does other projects as well.

“I’m caught up now, but I’ll be losing work in a couple of days if it’s not back,” he said.

“I had everything in there. Thousands of dollars in equipment,” Knudsen went on. 

“It’s my whole life,” he said.

Bloomsburg Police Officer Shawn Hill is asking the public to call him if they spot the van or have any information on the vehicle theft. 

If seen, people can call him at 570-784-4155 ext. 179 or notify the Columbia County Communications Center by dialing 9-1-1.