DISABLED people have been left stranded after a thief targeted their minibus.

The vehicle’s engine management system has been stolen and wiring cut from underneath the bonnet of the Mercedes bus used by the John Masefield Cheshire Home on Burcot Brook, in Burcot, near Abingdon.

Without the little black box - which is effectively the minibus’s computer – it is now immoblised and the home’s administrator Lorraine Sands said it was “causing major problems” as she was now unable to transport all their 22 residents.

Although the vehicle is insured, a replacement part, new wiring and fitting is likely to cost £2,000.

Home manager Teresa Mangonon said: “My biggest worry is that the insurance company might write it off and we are left with no vehicle.”

She said it was their biggest vehicle and could fit four to five wheelchairs.

She said: “We have four vehicles here, so it means we are having to sacrifice a few trips. Next week we are supposed to be going to the seaside at Portsmouth, but we are not sure we can go now.”

The home also picks up eight local residents and takes them to the home three days a week.

She said: “We take them from the community and bring them here. We are having to ask two people to stay at home.

“Just imagine you are on your own at home and you are looking forward to going somewhere and then you can’t because there is no vehicle.

“It is something they look forward to and it has been taken away from them.

“I can’t imagine what kind of a person could do such a thing – somebody who doesn’t have conscience.”

Maintenance coordinator Colin Fanston said the thief, who struck earlier this month, left no sign of a break-in.

He said: “It is one of the two main vehicles that we use, and this has made things pretty diffcult for us.

“We use them for various things.

“They are used for picking people up to take them to the day centre three days a week and returning them home.

“We also use them for trips out, especially at this time of year. It is just a little black box, but the man at the garage told me it could cost more than £1,000 to replace.”

He said it was a heartless crime as the van had the home’s logo on it.

He said: “It affects the lives of the people here and they don’t have that much anyway. There are some quite severely disabled people here and this has stopped them from going out.”

If you can help the home get back on the road, please contact volunteer coordinator David Williams on 01865 340324.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call police on 08458 505505.