A DISABLED woman has been left virtually housebound after thieves stole her mobility scooter from outside her flat.

Residents living at a Portchester retirement complex have been plagued by thoughtless yobs who repeatedly steal the scooters from outside their flats.

Now Shelagh Steel has become their latest victim after her £2,500 scooter was taken over the weekend.

Mrs Steel, 83, said she was devastated her scooter had gone. "That was my lifeline, absolutely. I can't believe they have taken it.

"I wonder what goes through their heads.They know it is a disabled person they are stealing from. I can't think why they do it."

The-grandmother-of-two used the scooter almost every day to visit the shops and pick up her pension. After suffering from polio and fracturing both her hip and pelvis Mrs Steel was heavily reliant on her mobility aid.

"I had had it specially adapted for me. I am very disabled, you see, and hooks had been put on it to take my crutches along with a Zimmer frame that I have recently been using."

Mrs Steel's scooter had been taken before but was found in the grounds of a nearby school.

The Daily Echo reported in November how another elderly resident of Postern Close also had her scooter stolen.

The 87-year-old was eventually reunited with her mobility aid after joyriders dumped it half a mile away. Now police are appealing for anyone who knows the whereabouts of the maroon four-wheeled scooter to get in touch.

A spokesman for Fareham police said: "This has happened before at this address and last time we were able to reunite the owner with her scooter. These are despicable acts on disabled members of our community and we would urge any witnesses to contact us." Anyone with information can contact Fareham police on 0845 045 4545.