Police have issued a warning to van owners following a spate of catalytic converter thefts.

Catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles parked outside homes in Shoreham on the evening of May 4.

In the following days three vans at an industrial park in Marlborough Road, Lancing, were also targeted.

PC Noel Simmonds said: "The offenders crawl under the vehicles and cut the catalytic converter out. They are then sold on as scrap metal.

"Anything owners can do to prevent people from approaching or getting under their vehicle will make them safer. Thieves like to go unnoticed so measures such as parking in a place covered by a security light or CCTV, or fitting a security device that will sound an audible alarm if the vehicle is rocked may also help.

“I would ask the owners of vans to be particularly careful and ask the public in general to report such thefts and any suspicious incidents as soon as possible to give us the best chance of deterring, catching and convicting those responsible.”

Catalytic converters were taken from Franklin Road, Stoney Lane, Mansell Road, Buci Crescent in Shoreham and Park Way in Southwick.