A WHEELCHAIR-bound York woman has spoken how she has lost her “lifeline” after heartless thieves stripped thousands of pounds worth of parts from her specially-adapted van.

Kathryn Wynne-Thomas, 42, said the entire exhaust system had been stolen from her Mercedes Sprinter van as she was asleep in her home in North Moor Gardens, in Huntington.

The van had been adapted by a disability charity to allow Mrs Wynee-Thomas – who also cares for her husband who has Alzheimer’s – to drive the vehicle in her wheelchair.

Thieves are thought to have stripped the vehicle of the catalytic converter for its scrap metal value.

Metal theft has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing crimes due to rising prices for materials such as copper and lead.

The most commonly targeted vehicles are Mercedes Sprinter vans.

Mrs Wyne-Thomas said she had attempted to start the vehicle on Thursday morning and noticed immediately that something was seriously wrong.

After calling the RAC breakdown services, an engineer informed Mrs Wynee-Thomas what had happened.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“He said the entire exhaust system had been taken.

It must have been stolen while someone lay sleeping in a bedroom about ten feet from where it was parked outside and nobody heard a thing.

“What upsets me is that the vehicle was quite clearly marked as a disabled vehicle – it is just not right.

“I have been told it will cost about £3,000 to replace in total.

“This van is the only way I can get out and about. It is a lifeline for me and my husband who has Alzheimer’s, as we care for each other.

“It is just wrong.”

A police spokesman said: “This is a despicable crime which has caused the victim a great deal of distress. The van was quite clearly marked as a disabled person’s vehicle.

“We would urge anyone who can help identify the thieves to come forward to police as soon as possible.”

Anyone who witnessed the theft should contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.