A couple from Croydon have been left devastated after thieves stole their £30,000 campervan from their driveway as they slept in their home – just days after returning from a holiday last week.

Royston Crow: The campervan was stolen from Larkins Road in Croydon.The campervan was stolen from Larkins Road in Croydon. (Image: Archant)

Offenders took the Chausson Flash 09 campervan which was parked outside an address in Larkins Road on Tuesday last week.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, told the Crow: “We feel shocked and violated. It is as if part of our lives has been ripped away.”

The owners, who have lived in the village for almost a decade, saved up and bought the campervan nine years ago so they could use it for holidays during their retirement.

They had just come back from holiday and many of their possessions were still inside the vehicle as it hadn’t yet been unloaded.

Their daughter said the caravan has taken them to hundreds of locations, and is a home from home.

She told the Crow: “My parents are naturally devastated – they saved up to buy it so they could go away together when they retired, and the thought that these despicable people would take their pride and joy from their own home is just horrific.

“Both sets of keys were in the house, and the vehicle has an immobiliser so it’s thought it may have been put onto a low-loader.

“Unfortunately they live on a country road and no-one heard or saw anything.”

The vehicle is thought to have been taken at some point between midnight and 8am on Tuesday, April 4.

Officers at Cambs police are investigating the theft – anyone with information should call them on 101 quoting incident 95 of April 4. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or fill out the charity’s secure form at crimestoppers-uk.org