The woman, who does not want to be named, contacted the Eden Magnet after her car was stolen on Friday night.

She shared her story in the hope it would raise awareness of a crime that is becoming more common in the Eden area, and also help police locate the thieves. 

“My car was a little gold Mazda 323 hatchback,” the woman said.

“It was kept in a locked yard  in the industrial area of Eden. 

"Someone broke in, and drove my car through the fencing.”

The police were notified, and followed tracks past the pony club, through a boggy area normally only accessible to four wheel drives. 

“After the police had no luck, we decided to see if we could find it,” the woman said.

“We firstly went to where the police had lost the tracks. 

"There were deep muddy holes, and we were hoping my little car may have become stuck and dumped, but no such luck.”

The woman decided to head towards the water towers, near Reservoir Street, where another stolen car had ended up previously. 

This car had been taken for a joy ride, then set on fire, so the woman felt her hope dwindling as she approached the area. 

“After reaching the water tank and driving over one of the banks, we discovered a shell of what was once my car,” the woman said, recalling the memory of a vehicle reduced to twisted metal and molten ash.

“It was really heartbreaking to see it in such a state.”

Upsetting the woman further is that the Mazda contained a child’s car seat and baby toys, making it harder to believe the callousness of the crooks. 

Also up in smoke were months of hard work and precious funds.

“I saved so hard to buy that car,” the woman said. 

“I really don’t comprehend why people get a thrill destroying everything.”

But perhaps most unsettling for the woman is the eroded sense of safety in her own home town.

“It’s horrible to feel on edge all the time now.

"I never thought something like this would happen to me, let alone in little Eden,” she said. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.