The Holden Barina was parked at the home of founder Margaret Purcell, who discovered the car on two pots at 6:15am Friday September 30.

She said police came to survey the crime scene on Friday morning but the car was wiped clean of any fingerprints.

“It’s vulnerable people taking from other vulnerable people,” Mrs Purcell said, who also had this message for the offenders.

“You’ve taken from your own community, you’ve taken from a charity that ... support over 1000 people a week. It’s a charity, nobody owns this [car], everybody’s a volunteer and no-one gets a wage.

“[They’ve stamped] on the local community that’s doing something to help people like themselves.”

The vehicle, which is around 20-years-old and dubbed “The Luv Bug”, was created through the generosity of more than a dozen local businesses to be used in projects like teaching teens about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The charity provides support for people affected by poverty and mental health issues and also uses the car in outreach programs “on the streets” and has become their mascot.

“The Luv Bug sits unusable because someone felt they deserved the wheels and tyres instead of the community,” Mrs Purcell said. 

“Unfortunately this vehicle was to be used next week in the launch of The DENNY Foundation's ‘Mental Health, It Matters’ project for Mental Health awareness month.”

The not-for-profit was born out the personal hardship of Mrs Purcell’s family after losing their son Denny to suicide 16 years ago.