Thieves hit Meals on Wheels vans

Four Meals on Wheels vans have been taken off the road after their catalytic converters were stolen.

A staff member at Agincare Home Cuisine on the Wessex Trade Centre in Poole contacted police on Sunday morning.

The catalytic converters, which are worth about £300 each, were cut from underneath the Citroen vans which deliver food to the elderly.

Police said it was a "despicable" act. The exhaust systems of the affected vehicles should be repaired this week.

The vans are sign written with Agincare on the side.

Pc Paul Craig, of Dorset Police, said: "This was a despicable act which has meant that the affected vans have had to be taken off the road and cannot be used for delivering meals to the elderly and disabled until their exhaust systems are repaired.

"Some sort of cutting device was used to remove the catalytic converters from the underside of the vehicles, rendering the vans useless.

"I would be interested to hear from anyone who knows of catalytic converters being offered for sale in unusual circumstances or locations - or cheaply."