A BOURNEMOUTH resident has been left dejected after her classic Rover Metro was stolen from a Toby Carvery car park.

Carla Jane Withers, 36, from Bournemouth, had her 1994 Rover Metro stolen from a Toby Carvery car park in Northbourne on Saturday, July 13 at around 9pm. 

Checking the car only 25 minutes before it was stolen, Carla said she realised it had gone when her husband had asked her for the keys.

She said: "We parked over the road at Toby Carvery at 1pm on Saturday and about 8pm I saw the car outside and it was still there. 

"20-25 minutes later I come upstairs and I go to my room and then my other half starts shouting at me saying 'where's the car?'"

A collector of vehicles, Carla had bought the car after it was found in the back garden of a lady who had died. 

She said she fell in love with the car, which is one of the last few remaining in the country, for its 'ordinary' look.

She said: "I don't have children, I have cars. I've got two other cars but they're off the road at the minute. 

"The Metro was the only one that was actually was on the road. I got a BMW and a Nissan which both failed MOT but the Metro went straight through."

Since it went missing, Carla has found out an eyewitness saw the car being driven erratically towards Kinson.

She also reported another car was stolen from the area within days of her car's theft and she has had an outpouring of residents saying they have also had their cars recently stolen. 

She said: "Ever since my car has been stolen, people are coming forward that their car's been stolen. 

"Only about two hours ago there's been another car stolen."

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "We have received a report that a vehicle was stolen from Wimborne Road in Bournemouth between 8.30pm and 9.40pm on Saturday 13 July 2024.

"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing. No arrests have been made."