Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Kathleen Speirs

Family devastated as luxury Landrover gifted by dead dad stolen by cruel thieves

A grieving Scots family are desperately hunting sick thieves who stole their car, which was left to them by their late dad and grandfather.

Kirsty and Neil McCormack's white Landrover Freelander was nicked in the early hours of Sunday morning by cruel thieves.

The couple and their children, Nicole, 13, Kyle 11 and two-year-old Skye Phillipa, were devastated to find the motor had vanished from outside their home in Kilsyth, South Lanarkshire.

The vehicle holds more sentimental value than most as it was left to the young family by Kirsty's dad, Robert Phillips.

Robert, known as Flippo, died after a two-year-long battle with cancer last year, aged just 65.

The grandfather, from Dumbarton, West Dunbartonshire, passed his pristine car on to the McCormacks, and his personalised registration plate, FL11 POP, went to little Skye Phillipa.

Neil McCormack driving the white Landrover that was stolen over the weekend (Handout)

In a cruel twist of fate, the family car was stolen hours after they'd been at a long-awaited memorial for Robert.

Desperate to get their car back, the McCormack's have launched an online appeal as police hunt the callous crooks.

Kirsty, 40, told the Record: "We would have been angry if this was any old car, but it's more emotional because it was my dad's

"Skye Phillipa is named after my dad as we didn't think he'd live to see her come into the world, so the fact they've got the regi plate too is horrible, as that was left to her.

Neil and Kirsty McCormack with their three children Nicole, Kyle and Skye Phillipa (Handout)

"Police say this is likely a targeted attack, we don't know who it could have been.

"It makes you wonder who has been watching you.

"It's awful to think people could do this."

Self-employed Neil, 38, nipped to the local shop in his work van on Sunday morning. It wasn't until he arrived home around 9am that he realised the car had gone.

Neil McCormack driving the white Landrover that was stolen over the weekend (Handout)

Frantic, the couple called police and in the meantime took to social media.

One local shared CCTV footage of the thieves making off in the stolen motor.

"This kind of thing doesn't happen in our estate," Kirsty added.

Robert Phillips with Skye Phillipa before he passed away last year (Handout)

"You wouldn't know the estate was here as it's hidden away.

"People claim to have seen the car in Galston, Dalkeith, Giffnock and Edinburgh.

"But police haven't made any progress at this stage."

It's a huge stress for Kirsty, who has final exams starting on Monday for her accountancy degree.

"I've not had a minute to study since the car was stolen," she said.

"This degree is four years of hard work, and I might fail at the last hurdle, meaning it was all for nothing.

"This is much more than a car being stolen."

Police Scotland confirmed the theft and told the Record than an investigation is underway.

A spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating the reported theft of a vehicle from the Arnbrae Road area of Kilsyth which is believed to have happened overnight on Saturday, May 1 into Sunday, May 2.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 and quote incident number 1072 of 2 May.”

Don't miss the latest Scottish crime and courts news from the Daily Record.

Sign up to our Criminal Record newsletter here .

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.