Disabled drivers are being warned to be on their guard after a spate of blue badge thefts.

Gangs have targeted the cars of disabled drivers to steal their blue parking badges across Brighton and Hove in recent years.

The blue badges have been known to sell for up to £500 a time on the black market.

Now residents have heard about another spate of thefts.

Paul Thompson had his blue badge stolen just days after putting it back because he had been fined for not having it on display.

The 53-year-old used to regularly remove the badge from his car at night because he was worried thieves would smash a window and take it.

However he was given a ticket for parking his Vauxhall Zafira in a disabled bay outside his home in Richmond Road, Brighton.

The ticket was waived on appeal because the traffic warden put in the wrong street name but Mr Thompson decided to leave the badge where it was in case he was given another one.

He said: “I've been removing the badge for the last six or seven years just to be careful because I know they can get taken and sold on.

“However after the fine I decided to leave it in the car until I could find out exactly what the actual position was.

“We certainly can't afford to keep on paying out fines all the time.

“One night I heard a car pull up outside, I looked out and I saw them smash my window and then screech away really fast.

“I knew what had happened and when I ran outside the badge was gone.”

Mr Thompson is a full-time carer for his wife Jan, 49, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

He said: “The badge is for her. The car is her lifeline and she needs it to get out and about.

“This has really upset her “It seems we can't win either way. Either we leave the badge in the car and it gets stolen or we take it out and get fined.

“The only people who seem to be winning in all of this are the thieves.

“I've been told there have a been a spate of thefts in the area over recent weeks so I think people need to be warned about it.”

City council cabinet member for the environment, Geoffrey Theobald, said: “We take this extremely seriously.

“Every time a person with a stolen blue badge parks illegally in a disabled bay, they are taking away a space for someone who genuinely needs it.

“We are working extremely closely with the police on this issue and have regular crackdowns to track those responsible.”

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We are working closely with Sussex Police to crackdown against the fraudulent use of disabled badges and will prosecute wherever possible.

“This is an issue we take extremely seriously.”

A spokesman for Sussex Police confirmed Mr Thompson's theft was being investigated and warned drivers to be on their guard.

Last year the Department for Transport (DfT) announced it was giving extra powers to tackle the problem of blue badge theft after admitting theft and forgery of disabled permits is rife.

Figures published by the DfT showed more than 95,000 badges were issued to motorists in Sussex between 1995 and 2007.

They included 12,000 in Brighton and Hove, 32,000 in East Sussex and 51,000 in West Sussex.

Under the new regulations, permit applicants will have to undergo an independent medical test to check they have genuine mobility problems.

Police and council workers in Brighton and Hove have joined forces for Operation Bluebird, which targets people misusing blue badges.

In the last sting, 47 disabled parking badges were seized.

Of those, 40 were suspected of being stolen property or being misused by an able-bodied driver. Drivers found fraudulently using blue badges face prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.

Have you been the victim of blue badge theft? Call Siobhan Ryan on 01273 544543 or leave your comments below.