A car adapted for use by a tetraplegic has been stolen from the owner's drive only to be torched.

Surrey Police are appealing for information after three cars were taken from a property on Burntwood Lane, Caterham in the early hours of Friday morning.

Police believe the keys to the cars were taken with a tool used to reach through a letterbox and scoop them from a bowl by the front door.

One of the vehicles, a silver Mercedes Vaneo, which had been specially adapted for its tetraplegic owner, was stolen alongside a yellow Suzuki motorcycle and a red Hyundai Lantra between midnight and 8am.

James Dougherty of Reigate CID, said: “I would urge anyone who has information on the theft of these vehicles or who saw anything suspicious in the area around the time the offence took place to contact officers with information.

“I would like to remind members of the public to not store the keys to their vehicle near to doors or windows where they can be of easy reach to thieves.”

The Mercedes was found burned out in the garage area of Deepfield Way, Coulsdon around 9pm on Friday, 13 July and the Hyundai was found, also burned out at the junction between Stoneyfield Road and St Davids Road in Coulsdon around 11pm on Sunday, 15 July.

The motorcycle has not yet been located.

Anyone who has any information on this burglary should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference TD/12/3146