A pensioner’s car was wrecked by thieves in Buckinghamshire during a night-time spate of thefts.

The 74-year-old retired woman, who lives alone, had a shock wake-up call after thieves targeted her driveway in the middle of the night in Chalfont St Peter on November 10.

After 2am, her neighbour woke up to a loud noise as the thieves sawed off the catalytic converter of her parked Lexus and called the police, the Lower Road resident said.

She said: “I don’t know what can be done to protect us from these thieves.

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“I’m a pretty strong, independent person, but I think my main fear in all this is they’re going to come back as soon as I get my car fixed. I just feel like I’m forever vulnerable."

After speaking with neighbours and friends, she found out there had been a “spate of thefts” in the area, she claimed.

“In fact, a friend of mine lives on East Common, and her neighbour's catalytic converter was stolen in broad daylight, while they were standing there.

“They were an elderly couple, it must have been terrifying.”

The theft left her feeling “not great” and almost a week after the incident, she had “no idea” how much she might have to pay out in repairs.

She was told catalytic converters can cost up to £1000, plus the fitting-in costs.   

She said: “I’m actually going out only if I absolutely have to.

“They damaged the paintwork a little bit, they damaged the grill to disable the alarm, and the catalytic converter is going to be a salvage one because they can’t get new ones.”

While her insurance company has been “absolutely brilliant” in getting her a temporary car, driving the brand-new hire car makes her feel “really uncomfortable”, and she’s “frightened to death leaving it anywhere” in case something happens to it, she explained.

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Her daughter lives in Windsor, where they usually park on the pavement, which is now making her “nervous and very upset to be honest.”

“It’s not like me, I’m quite tough old bird,” she added.

“I’ve changed my doorbell so it records, and I’ve put a security light outside, but if they’re going to do it, they’re going to do it.”

She considered fitting catalytic converter locks, but was told “it only takes a few extra minutes, and they’ll cut that off as well.”

“I’m not sure how long it’s going to take until I can have my car back.

“But I’m genuinely concerned, because I feel I’ll get my car back and they’ll do it again."

Thames Valley Police confirmed they received “a report of a theft from a vehicle” around 2.40am.

The force said: “An investigation into this incident took place.

“This investigation has now been filed pending further investigation coming to light.”