Thieves are stealing catalytic converters from under the bonnets of vans and cars in Chessington to sell the precious metal inside.

The exhaust part can be sold for as much as £100 to scrap metal dealers but leaves the owners with a large bill to replace it.

Kingston police said the Cox Lane estate in Roebuck Road, Chessington, was most affected.

Brian Baker, of A3 Appliances in Tolworth Rise South, was targeted on Wednesday, April 11.

He said: “We only bought the van for £19,000 three weeks ago. When we tried to start it today we realised the catalytic converter had gone.

“We reported it to the police and we have been told it’s the third today. They have got loads of them.

“Even customers that have come in have said ‘We have had that done’.”

His brother, Mark Baker, said: “We didn’t realise how big this is until we started phoning around.”

Acting inspector David Boyle said there had been a new rise in thefts after a peak a year ago.

Numbers are now about three a month in Kingston, according to crime figures.

He said: “Each new converter costs about £300 and has to be replaced.

“Often replacement costs are not covered by insurance and the costs come off the bottom line of small businesses.”

Police have visited businesses on the estate to ask them to reposition or increase their CCTV coverage and increased safer neighbourhood patrols.

But Insp Boyle said cars were rarely stolen from outside houses or in well-lit streets.

Forces up and down the country have warned car and van owners to be vigilant.

In South Derbyshire there were 30 thefts in just one week.

A charity working with children with disabilities and special needs was targeted in Crawley and left with a £1,500 repair bill.

Have you been targeted by the catalytic converter thieves? Call the newsdesk on 020 8744 4244.