Land Rovers across the Canterbury district are being targeted by thieves for their expensive LED lights.

Criminals are removing the fittings and their high-powered bulbs to sell on the black market.

The lights - particularly the headlamps - are even said to be used in cannabis cultivation.

Adrian and Teresa Lynch are among the recent victims of the costly crime.

The couple were at their home in Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay, at about midnight on Monday when the rear light panels were stolen from their 2014 Land Rover Discovery.

“We have CCTV already, but it isn’t working very well because the street lights outside have been turned off for repair works,” explained Mr Lynch, 44.

“When I rang Barretts the Land Rover dealership on Tuesday morning, they said that I was the third to ring up that morning that this had happened to.

“There was one in Reculver Drive, just down the road from us.

“To me it’s just a real inconvenience.”

Mr Lynch now plans to install security screws on his lights to prevent them from being stolen again.

But it will cost the family more than £580 to replace the lights, excluding the bulbs and fitting costs. The thieves also damaged the body of the grey 4x4 by scratching its paintwork.

Previous incidences of Land Rovers being stripped of their lights have been linked to cannabis growing, to which the powerful LED bulbs are reportedly suited.

Paul Barrett, who runs the dealership in Broad Oak Road, Canterbury, says there have been several recent reports of lights being removed from vehicles.

He said: “I must admit I haven’t heard that they’re used for cannabis growing, although we know some Land Rover parts do get stolen and sold for spares on the black market.”

Anyone with information about the theft in Mickleburgh Hill should call 01843 222289, quoting reference ZY/44219/18.