A THIEF conned a disabled woman out of the wheelchair by dressing his van up with the logo of a well known disabilities charity.

In what police say was a well planned crime, a man approached the house of the 34-year-old woman on Howgill Avenue, Lancaster at 1.30pm on Monday.

The door was answered by the woman's 16-year-old son, who was told that his mother's wheelchair was to be taken away temporarily.

His van had a 'Motability Care' or similar slogan on the front and a six inch square orange disabled badge in the front window.

The man made off with the wheelchair, 'driving' it towards the van and leaving. The wheelchair, an Epic Apollo indoor power wheelchair, is valued at £1,750.

The woman, who leases the wheelchair, believed the caller to be a genuine Motability representatives, but after making further checks, she was shocked to discover that her wheelchair had been stolen.

Det Sgt Mark Salisbury of Lancaster police said: "We would repeat our warning about bogus callers to any person who is in possession of a wheelchair.

"Anybody owning an object like this should be on the look out for this man. This crime has obviously been targeted.

"If anybody has any idea who this person is, we would ask them to tell Lancaster police."

Police believe the incident may be connected to another similar incident at Cockerham.

The thief is described as 5ft 6in tall, of medium build, with black, curly hair and, possibly, a silver earring. He wore a black jumper and jeans and drove a Ford Transit van.