For 77-year-old Stephen Bond, mowing lawns for work is what keeps his household running.
To do this he uses his 1000cc Suzuki super carrier, which also doubles as the only way to transport his wheelchair-bound wife.
So, the couple were understandably upset that the unique van was stolen from their carport at Vosper St in Toi Toi last Saturday evening. However, police located the van and returned it home to the Stephen on Wednesday evening.
The van is the only one like it in Nelson, with a distinctive orange light on the top and a personalized plate that reads ‘Bondie’.
Stephen’s daughter Sarah says the theft had left her mother feeling stressed, which is not a good combination with her health issues.
She suffers from Addison’s Disease, which stemmed from a mass which required the removal of her adrenal gland.
It has left her mother reliant on regular medication and using a wheelchair to get around.
“She can walk from her wheelchair to the toilet in her one-bedroom home with the assitance of rails everywhere, but that car is the only way dad can get her around,” Sarah says.
The van was stolen on Saturday around 11pm and was noticed heading along the Moutere Highway shortly before 11.30pm.
The witnesses say they clearly remember discussing the number plate, and recall the van pulling over to let them pass as it was travelling slowly.
“It overheats a lot, it doesn’t go up to 100kmh, well you can force it but it’s only 1000cc,” Sarah says.
“The neighbours heard it take off at 11pm but thought it was my brother, so thought nothing of it. It wasn’t till the next day when dad went and asked them if they had heard anything they realised that’s when it was stolen.”
Sarah says, although the van is worth around $10k, it’s the sentimental value that they are most annoyed about.
“The car was supposed to be passed down to his grandkids, and dad’s had the plates for more than 25 years.”
She says he has had to replace one of the plates previously, and it took “years” to sort out with the licensing agency.
Stephen is using Sarah’s car this week to get to work, which she says funds his hobby of playing bowls.
“It’s not an extravagant lifestyle they live, the work makes ends meet.”
