A COUPLE who were planning to drive to Italy in their motorhome were left with “virtually nothing” after it was stolen.

Lucia Liberati and Terry Deane, of Renters Avenue, Brent Cross, were shopping in Tesco’s, Hendon Way, when their £33,000 van was taken from the car park.

The devastated couple were left “paralysed and in shock” when they returned to find the Dethleffs Fortero motorhome missing.

As a result, they have had to cancel their plans to spend three months in Florence. In it was their laptop, clothes, glasses, crockery, passports and money.

Ms Liberati, 55, said: “It feels like our way of life has been taken. We used to travel abroad in it a lot - it was our passport to freedom.

“We would just hop in and go whenever we felt like it. It gave us total freedom to see friends abroad and we wouldn’t have to worry about where we would stay.

“Now this lifestyle has been taken from us and our freedom as well. Really it was our home.”

They had planned to embark for Florence the following day after delaying the trip for a few weeks to spend time with Ms Liberati’s daughter, who has four children.

Police were unable to locate the vehicle, which was seen leaving neighbouring Toys r Us at 6.30pm.

Ms Liberati added: “I couldn’t think straight when I spoke to police. It was a horrible feeling, my partner looked like death.”

The couple, who live next door to Ms Liberati’s daughter and grandchildren, had planned to visit Lucia’s mother and say friends keep asking when they will be coming.

They bought the van last year and spent money customising it, adding solar panels and decorating it with family mementos.

They are both self-employed and had used the van to travel to different locations in Europe before it was stolen.

Writer Ms Liberati and her partner, a musician, 77, are still planning to make the trip when they are able to replace the motorhome.

But Ms Liberati said: “I’m concerned I won’t be able to find another van that makes me feel the way the old one did. It was like home.”

Police are investigating and no arrests have been made.