A MOTOR home company has been left with a bill of tens of thousands of pounds after thieves stole catalytic converters from 15 vehicles.

The theft at Cleveland Motor Homes, based at Durham Tees Valley Airport, was only discovered when a customer arrived to collect his new motor home.

It is believed thieves stole the 2ft-long, galvanised steel catalytic converters to sell for scrap.

A number of Avtex televisions were also taken from other motor homes.

It is thought the thefts happened overnight between January 11 and 13.

In a separate incident, four catalytic converters were stolen from vans in Darlington and Bishop Auckland, last week.

Three Mercedes sprinter vans were targeted overnight on Thursday, January 19. The vans were parked in South End Avenue and Marine Road, both Darlington, and St Andrew’s Road, Bishop Auckland.

One of the vans belonged to Dawn Abernethy, who owns Bathroom World, in Victoria Road, Darlington.

She said the van would cost £2,900 to fix and had meant her company had been forced to cancel nine deliveries to customers yesterday.

“I am very angry,” she said.

“The driver phoned me to say the engine sounded funny, so I asked him to take it to the garage. When they put it up on the ramp and had a look, they said, ‘Do you realise your exhaust is missing?’ “It has affected business.

We have had to ring our customers and tell them we can’t deliver. It is going to cost us almost £3,000 to fix. The police officer told me the thief would get about £700 for it.”

Detective Constable Jonathan Stoker, of the priority crime team in Darlington, said: “The victims of these thefts are suffering disruption to their livelihoods as they need to use their vans for work. There is also a cost implication as exhaust systems incorporating a catalytic converter and particle filter can cost about £2,500 to replace.

“Where possible people should keep their vehicle locked in a garage overnight and they should consider contacting their local Mercedes dealership to arrange catalytic converter protection.”

A catalytic converter was also stolen from from a white Ford Ranger in the Hall Lane Estate, Bishop Auckland, between December 21 and 22.

Anyone with information about the thefts, or who needs security advice, call 101.