CATALYTIC converter thieves broke into a compound owned by the Worcestershire Health and Care Trust over the weekend, targeting several vehicles.
After gaining access to the compound in Crown Lane, Wychbold, the raiders stole the converters from five Mercedes Sprinter vans owned by the NHS.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust said “The team supplies equipment to meet the assessed needs of people with disabilities, to help maintain their health and independence.
“Our staff are really upset by the thefts over the weekend but we are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum for our patients.”
Droitwich Police condemned the actions, adding officers would be visiting the compound to investigate the thefts.
It follows on from last week when catalytic converters were stolen from three Droitwich garages.
The owners of the Car Lot Worcestershire, Droitwich Carriage Co and Droitwich Diesel Services were left counting the cost to the tune of tens of thousands of pounds.
Thieves steal catalytic converters because they contain a lot of metal and often target 4x4s and other higher vehicles as it is easier to climb underneath them.
The 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act was introduced to prevent the sale of stolen metal, ruling merchants must be registered and not receive items without verifying the seller’s full name and address and where the goods had come from.
Records must be kept detailing dates and times, type of metal, condition, weight, any distinguishing features and information about vehicles transporting it.
Sales must be completed using cheques or electronic transfer to prevent undetectable cash transactions.
Witnesses or anyone with any information to the thefts in Wychbold or Droitwich should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
