A number of drivers have been hit by a string of steering wheel thefts leaving them unable to use their car.

Daniel Farley was one victim whose BMW 3 series was targeted while parked in Lester Road, Chatham on January 25 at around 3am.

His driver's side window had been smashed and the steering wheel stolen. Daniel, 27, was able to catch the suspects on CCTV and said it took all of one minute.

He added: "It is just shocking really. I went to get in my car and there was no steering wheel. I cannot even get to work. It is concerning that it can be done in such a short amount of time."

Only two miles down the road, Beth Vant's BMW 1 series was targeted in the same way. The 22-year-old's wheel was stolen from her car while parked outside her house in Churchill Avenue, on the same night.

Beth said: "It is crazy and shocking. All the money you earn and I work so hard and then people come and do this.

"I woke up and I did not even see it outside but when I did I just burst into tears. I just could not believe it. It is just a shock."

Beth, who works for South East Water, said she has only had her car for six months and has been told three other down her road were smashed on the same night.

She added: "I do not know what other damage has been caused. I did not know it was a thing to take steering wheels."

Beth added neither her family or neighbours heard the break-ins during the night.

In both incidents, nothing else was stolen and there was no other visible damage apart from the shattered glass and missing wheel.

A police spokesman confirmed the force had received multiple reports of criminal damage and theft from vehicles in Medway on Wednesday, January 26.

They added: "Windows were smashed and steering wheels were reported stolen from a number of vehicles parked in Rochester and Chatham, in streets including Hazel Drive, Streetend Road, Lester Road, Dale Street, Churchill Avenue, Hazel Grove in Chatham and Warren Wood Road in Rochester.

"Officers carried out a number of inquiries including the review of CCTV and on the evening of January 26 a 28-year-old man from Essex was arrested in connection with the thefts and remains in police custody."