BMW owners have been put on high alert after a spree of attacks which have seen steering wheels forcibly removed in under 10 seconds.

Roofer Steven Mills, of Highgrove Road, Chatham lost trade and has been forced to take lifts into work after discovering his car’s window smashed and wheel missing.

Police have warned residents to be on their guard after four BMW cars were targeted in the same area overnight on Monday.

Steven, 24, has only had his car six months and uses it to get to and from jobs, as he says it is too expensive to get insured on a van at his age.

He told KentOnline: “It’s very inconvenient. I'm unable to work so I've lost money as I can't get there, so I'm constantly trying to get lifts everywhere.

“Sometimes when it's not too far I can get picked up but if it's too far I can’t.”

The theft from his car happened at 10.30pm whilst it was parked outside his house.

With storms due in the days after, Steven was resorted to wrapping the car in tarpaulin to prevent rain gushing through the open window.

He is devastated as he was gifted the car by his dad, Kevin, and had promised to pay him back in monthly installments.

Steven added: “I've only had the car six months sadly, but I love it. I'm gutted this has happened.”

CCTV footage taken from his house shows a car pulling up, someone getting out and approaching the driver’s side of his blue BMW 1 series 120d, before quickly getting back in the passenger seat of a car and speeding off.

Steven’s dad Kevin has been left furious the theft could have been carried out so fast and is demanding answers from the car manufacturers.

He said: “Can somebody from BMW please explain to me how it is possible to break a side window and steal a M Sport steering wheel in under 10 seconds and how can all BMW M Sport owners protect their vehicles from this happening?”

A series of attacks were carried out on three other BMW cars in the same night in Rover Road, McKenzie Road and Smith Road.

And it’s far from an isolated attack with similar incidents happening in July in Princes Avenue, Chatham, and in The Tideway Rochester.

Kent Police has since issued a warning to BMW owners.

Inspector Daniel Blatter, of the Medway Community Safety Unit “These thefts leave victims with a significant repair bill and our officers have been patrolling the area in marked and unmarked vehicles looking to stop and arrest suspects.

“In the meantime, I would advise car owners, particularly those with BMWs, to park their cars in a well-lit place, on a driveway, or in a garage, when not in use. If you see somebody acting suspiciously near a car and you think a crime is about to be committed, you should call 999.”

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should contact police on 01634 792209 quoting reference 46/194329/23.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or complete the online form on their website.