HEARTLESS thieves who targeted a charity’s specially-adapted minibus have been condemned for their actions.

Two men removed and stole a catalytic converter from a minibus parked at a base for the Multiple Sclerosis Society in West Parley.

Now branch chairman Rod Slip has challenged the thieves and said: “Perhaps they would like to steal our members’ Multiple Sclerosis as well.

“How anyone can steal from a charity beggars belief.”

Mr Slip has now released CCTV images in the hope that someone will recognise the two men, who struck at 10.15pm on Wednesday July 26 at the Osborne Centre in Church Lane.

He said: “We have a number of adapted vehicles to transport people within an 11-mile radius of the centre, enabling them to use our valuable services in order to assist them in living with an incurable and debilitating condition.

“These two men came under the cover of darkness to vandalise one of our vehicles by removing its catalytic converter from the exhaust system which rendered the vehicle inoperable thereby denying some of our members access to the centre on Thursday.

“This despicable and cruel act, by what can only be described as the lowest form of humanity, will mean the branch will have to raise the funds to replace the catalytic converter.

“Luckily we are insured but will still have to pay an excess sum.

“This incident has caused a lot of distress to people who have enough problems in their lives.”

Mr Slip said the vehicle is insured, although the charity will have to pay an excess if their claim is accepted. If not, a new catalytic converter could set them back £3,000.

“If we were a business then this could be absorbed, but not when it has to come from donations.”

Beryl Bundy, the charity’s fundraising officer, said: “It is a shame because only last week we managed to raise £2,000 at an event. We were delighted about that and now it feels like we are just paying for this.”

The CCTV shows the two thieves, one stockily built, wearing hoodies as they set to work, one under the van and the other apparently keeping watch.

After they make their way out of the gate, one cradling the heavy converter, two separate cars are seen driving past towards Bournemouth.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said there have been no arrests so far but an investigation is under way.