Thieves in West Dorset are stealing vital parts from cars, police have warned.

A catalytic converter has been stolen from a Land Rover Defender parked in West Allington, Bridport.

The incident is believed to have happened between Monday, January 14 at 6.15pm and Tuesday, January 15 at 5.05pm.

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalysing a redox reaction.

The occurrence number is 55190008147.

A catalytic converter has also been stolen from a Toyota Rav4.

The vehicle was parked in Crock Lane in Bridport when the item was stolen.

The theft is believed to have occurred between Sunday, January 13 at 6.15pm and Monday, January 14 at 8.30am.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “Thieves are targeting the vital part as it contains a number of valuable metals, making it a prized item for illegal scrap dealers that will pay good prices on platinum, rhodium and palladium, all of which are found in the devices.

“If you have any information regarding the above crimes, contact Dorset Police on 101 number, quoting the relevant occurrence number or you can report it on online.