Precious memories taken

Photo: LUKE PARKER

RECORDINGS STOLEN: Debbie Hill still has photos of her children but would like to have her video footage returned.

Relevant offers

Heartbroken mum Debbie Hill wants her memories back.

The 42-year-old lost more than a mode of transport when someone stole her car from LynnMall Shopping Centre last month.

Also taken was a video camera and an 8-millimetre tape containing irreplaceable footage of her children, aged 8 and 11.

Ms Hill has been filming the pair since the day each was born and has no additional copies.

She was on her way to have the tape recorded on to a DVD when the theft occurred.

Ms Hill parked her Toyota Rav4 at LynnMall to do some shopping first but arrived back 90 minutes later to find it missing.

"The first thing I thought of was the video camera rather than the car," Ms Hill says.

"It's been in my wardrobe and only comes out occasionally – it's old-school and not a flash new thing."

The whole experience has devastated her.

"I'm absolutely gutted to think I'm never going to get that footage back again," the Blockhouse Bay resident says.

"Kids continue to grow up. It's a horrible feeling."

She also lost swimming and sports gear, shoes and a work bag full of personal items. The vehicle and contents are insured, but the tape is priceless.

"You just can't get that sort of thing back," Ms Hill says.

"I don't care about the camera – I just want the film."

Anyone knowing where the tape is can drop it in the mail box to the right of the front doors of the Blockhouse Bay Community Centre at 524 Blockhouse Bay Rd.

- © Fairfax NZ News