The Wollongong pensioner performs at retirement homes and charity events, and spent last weekend in Canberra singing in a mass choir he describes as "one of the most amazing musical experiences I've ever had".

But while he was away, thieves broke into his car back in Wollongong and stole instruments worth almost $6000.

"When I retired, I said I'd keep busy. My whole life is music, and they've stolen it from me," Mr Caskey said.

"I never wanted to sit at home watching TV and being sorry for myself. I said I'll go out and entertain people. Now I can't."

A musician for 54 years, Mr Caskey is a member of popular ukulele group The Swingaleles, the Lamplighters vocal group from Arcadians Theatre, the Illawarra Folk Club, and Illawarra Breakfast Poets.

He left his car in the secure car park of a friend's apartment block in Wollongong over the weekend, as he travelled to Canberra to sing with the Lamplighters choir.

His favourite instruments - a 12-string and a six-string guitar, a mandolin, a ukulele - were covered up in the car.

"[In Canberra] I played at a retirement home, then with the choir. It was one of the most amazing musical experiences I've ever had," Mr Caskey said.

But then he came back to find the back window of his hatchback smashed, his lock chiselled out, and his beloved instruments gone.

"It ripped my heart out," he said.

He paid $600 to repair the window, but it paled in comparison to losing his instruments. The theft of his 12-string guitar, his prized possession for three decades, was the biggest blow.

Mr Caskey reported the theft to police. He said his 12-string was a blond-coloured Fender, with a distinctive tail-piece. His other instruments are a red sunburst Vester six-string semi-acoustic, a teardrop-shaped Washburn mandolin, and a dark Mahalo ukulele.

Anyone with information should contact Wollongong police or Crime Stoppers.