Annie Bustin on the spot where her Nissan Pulsar was stolen.
A Paraparaumu Beach octogenarian's independence has taken a hit after someone stole her car.
Annie Bustin, 80, had her 1997 blue Nissan Pulsar hatchback stolen from next to her Ocean Rd home on Monday night.
"They must have been very quiet because I don't sleep heavily.
"Maybe they pushed the car away and then hot-wired it to get it started on the road or something.
"They must have known what they were doing I suppose."
She didn't realise the car, which has done 145,000km, was missing until mid morning when a cleaner arrived.
"She said 'where's your car?'
"I looked out the window and it wasn't there."
Annie reported the theft to police straight away and then rang her insurance company.
The theft has had an impact on her emotionally.
"I was numb and then later in the day started to feel shaky.
"A friend took me up to do some shopping and I went to the cash machine and it kept turning my card away because I was putting the wrong card in - I don't do things like that normally.
"It was all catching up on me.
"And then overnight I kept waking up and thinking about it [the theft] and wondering where she was because she's a lovely little car."
The car was very important to Annie.
"It's my total independence.
"I don't drive on the main road anymore or go into Wellington, but I drive all around this area, Raumati South, Coastlands, Kapiti Rd, for shopping, going to the doctor's, hairdresser's, the chemist, everything really."
Anyone with information about the theft should contact their local police station.
The car's registration number is AZM645.
