A GOUROCK councillor has hit out at callous thieves who stole her car with a toddler seat, baby seat and buggy in the back.

Sandra Reynolds' car was swiped from outside her home in Gourock.

She swiftly reported the crime to police, phoned her insurers and got a locksmith out to her home to bolster security - but has been left reeling at the motivation behind the attack.

Cllr Reynolds said: "I'm concerned that the person who stole my car didn't seem to care that it could have belonged to a young mum or dad. Their life could have been seriously impacted by the ramifications of a theft like this.

"The seats and the pram could clearly be seen from outside the vehicle, and maybe they were the motivation for the theft rather than the car itself?

"For me it's an inconvenience, I'll get another car, but for a young mum this could be a source of a lot of distress and upset.

"All of a sudden they might not be able to get a young child to a nursery, drop them off at a grandparents for care or get to a doctor's surgery in the case of a medial emergency.

"My family will just have to bring my grandchildren to me now and I'll just use my bike and walk more until my insurance pays out and I source a replacement."

Sandra isn't sure if her keys were taken from her home or if she dropped them in the street somewhere nearby.

When she reported the theft to the police, Sandra says officers advised her that the majority of house break-ins in Inverclyde are carried out with intent to find keys for vehicles.

The newly-elected councillor says she hopes highlighting the theft will help to raise awareness around the type of heartless criminals operating in Inverclyde.

She added: "It's a shame as the car had a few more years left in it, but there's nothing I can do about it now.

"It just shows how stealing one person's car can have ramifications for a whole family - and shows that there are people out there perfectly happy to target others no matter their circumstances.

"As a family we will be able to work around the issues this will cause, but that might not necessarily be the case for a young mum or dad struggling to juggle a hectic life.

"I hope whoever is responsible this sees the story and realises the upset they have caused. Maybe they will think twice about doing something similar in the future."

Cllr Reynolds is pictured with her granddaughter Ayla, who is 10-months-old.