THIEVES have targeted and stolen a vital car part used to omit harmful gases from three different vehicles in one week.

A catalytic converter was stolen from a Honda Jazz car in Sunningdale on Monday, November 18 between the hours of 8pm and 9am.

Police have warned residents this is the third catalytic converter stolen in Sunningdale in one week.

The force report that the thieves use a 'noisy' small battery Angle grinder to remove the catalytic converter from the rear of the car.

This process is quite noisy so if residents hear grinding noises from an unusual location, check outside.

Also, police are advising residents to park their cars by reversing it against a wall to make it difficult for thieves to get underneath the car and steal anything.

A police spokesman said: "If you hear grinding noises from an unusual location - go and have a look - it only takes the thieves two minutes to cut though an exhaust pipe in front and behind the converter."