Vacuum Cleaner Gangs Have Stolen $160,000 From London Parking Meters

Thieves break open a hole however they can and then suck out the money

Motorists have been urged not to use cash to pay for parking – because gangs are using vacuum cleaners to suck coins out of meters.

Criminals have been targeting machines in affluent Kensington and Chelsea, bagging tens of thousands of pounds in loose change.

Councilors in the west London borough said £120,000 has been stolen in the past year.

They urged drivers to pay via app or by phone.

Will Pascall, of Kensington and Chelsea Council said: "We have gangs stalking the streets and smashing their way into machines to suck the cash out.

"We also now know from local police that this is funding further criminality in London, from drugs and trafficking to possibly violent crime.

"It is a trend we need to stop and motorists going cashless is one way we can help tackle this."

Criminals are also driving into the meters or using sledgehammers to smash them open, the council said.