A DISABLED pensioner had her blue badge stolen last week for the fourth time in 18 months.

Crooks smashed the window of Pamela Daly's car and stole her badge, which allows free parking throughout London.

The badge fetches a high price for thieves in what police have described as a growing problem.

Mrs Daly said badge theft was unheard of two years ago but since then her car had been targeted twice in a month.

To avoid leaving her badge in the car, she paid £40 for a year's permit to park in the controlled zone in Chewton Road near her house But when she put her badge back in her car, thieves struck again.

"I can't understand what low-lives want to do this," she said.

"I am so angry about this, it is going on all over the borough. Two years ago it wasn't a problem. Now it is rife.

"I go to the Sainsbury's car park and sit in the car while my husband goes inside. Practically every week I see someone with a disabled badge return to their car to find their window smashed and their badge taken.

"I report it to the police. They just take down the details and give you a crime number and you have to get a new disabled badge."

The council was very good at replacing the badges, said Mrs Daly, but she called for disabled people to be given free passes to park in controlled parking zones (CPZs) near their homes without cost.

CPZ permits, small slips of paper with the car registration number on, would be worthless to thieves.

Waltham Forest Council said it was considering the idea.

A spokesman said: "The council is aware of the problems this lady and other blue badge holders have experienced recently.

"We are currently reviewing our procedures and it may become possible to eliminate the use of blue badges in local permit areas by providing a free-of-charge residents permit to the blue badge holder.

"This however would be valid for their vehicles only in the permit bays nearest the area they reside in."

Det Sgt Phil Sims of the crime management unit at Leyton police station said the police were working to combat the crooks.

He said: "Theft from motor vehicles, whether it be to steal car stereos, items on display or disabled badges, unfortunately occurs too often.

"Anyone who steals such badges from vehicles obviously has no regard for this vulnerable section of our community."

Police warned drivers to lock their cars when unattended and to park in a well lit area preferably monitored by CCTV cameras. A list of police-approved car parks is available at www.saferparking.com.