Mobility scooter set alight in Crawley

Firefighters used a hose to put out the buggy after the Crawley crew was called to the scene in Gossopss Drive, Gossops Green, at 2.21am today (Tuesday February 2), West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said.

This has followed a spate of mobility scooter thefts in town.

Police appealed for witnesses after a disabled man had his £4,000 mobility scooter stolen from his home and three scooters used by OAPs were stolen from sheds.

Ravinder Patel, of Copse Crescent, West Green, said he needed his buggy to do his shopping after surgery had left him unable to sit on a wheelchair for prolonged periods of time.

He has been forced to buy another smaller scooter for £2,000 following the burglary in the early hours of Sunday, January 24.

He believed the thieves used a wheelie bin to climb into a shed via a gap in its roof (pictured) at around 2am.

Police launched an investigation after three mobility scooters were stolen from a sheltered housing scheme.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the vehicles were stolen from sheds in Woldhustlea Close, Gossops Green, between Wednesday and Thursday (January 27-28).

A police spokesman said: “Two of the scooters - a red Shoprider and a blue scooter, believed to be a Little Gem - are valued at about £700 each, and the third scooter - a grey and mauve Kymco Healthcare with a basket on the front - is worth about £1,500.

“A number of other items were also stolen from the outbuildings, which were locked, though there were no signs of forced entry. These include walking sticks, clothes and waterproofs.”

The thefts from two separate concrete sheds happened between 1pm on Wednesday and 11am on Thursday.

Anyone with any information was urged to contact police on [email protected] or call 101, quoting serial 600 of 28/01.

Alternatively, call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org).

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