SCHOOL youngsters with special needs and adults with complex disabilities are the latest victims of metal thieves who broke into a council depot.

Three Mercedes Sprinter minibuses belonging to Worcestershire County Council parked in the compound at the Sixways Worcester depot were left out of action after their catalytic converters were taken.

The adult and community services buses are used to carry three people in wheelchairs to Pershore Day Centre, and 15 youngsters attending two special schools in Worcestershire.

The converters, part of the vehicles’ exhaust system, contain valuable metals such as platinum which attracts thieves.

The theft happened between 8.50pm on Thursday, November 8, and 5.40am on Friday, November 9. Police forensics officers have swabbed the vehicles, and examined CCTV. Investigations are continuing.

Ironically, the council is in the process of fitting anti-theft devices to its entire fleet of vehicles but had not got around to protecting the minibuses.

Since the council instituted its cutbacks through the ‘BOLD’ programme, it has no standby replacement minibuses, but other vehicles were adapted and rostered in, making sure the service users still got to their destinations.

In the interim, two of the minibuses were repaired in three days, and the third a day after that.

Jon Fraser, a council transport service manager, said: “The council was in the process of fitting the manufacturer’s recommended anti-theft device to all its vehicles at the time of the thefts with the conversion yet to be completed on these three buses affected.

"These buses are used as a transport service for vulnerable adults with escorts and special needs children in the community.

“The buses have now all been repaired, and while work was carried out substitute buses were used to keep services running.

“I would urge anyone who knows of any information regarding these thefts, to please contact police by calling 101.”

The site is fenced off and covered by infrared CCTV, but a review of the tapes has so far failed to uncover the identity of the culprits.

Minibuses still waiting for the anti-theft fittings have been parked under cover for the interim.

Anyone with any information is asked to call West Mercia Police on 101.