News

While a police crackdown has reduced metal theft by 38 per cent over the past year, the number of cars targeted for their catalytic converters has shot up.

Such is the greed of the gangs that even ambulances and children’s charity mini-buses have been hit in recent weeks. ­Police have branded the thefts as “truly despicable”.

Many of the victims are families out on country walks who return to remote car parks to find their car exhaust systems wrecked.

High-clearance 4x4s are the targets of choice because thieves can climb underneath and steal the converter with a battery-powered tool in seconds, leaving the motorist with a bill of up to £1,000 to replace it.

The thefts are being ­driven by ­reforms in the scrap metals industry banning cash payments for scrap in a bid to combat metal theft.

As a result, ­criminals are focusing on the platinum, rhodium and palladium in exhaust systems.

With millions of obsolete cars scrapped every year, selling off stolen catalytic converters also raises far less suspicion. Few models have security markings or locking systems and it is almost impossible to monitor sales.

Crimestoppers launched a poster campaign last week with a £1,000 reward. More than 120,000 are being displayed at crime hotspots, warning drivers to be aware of thieves, asking for vital intelligence to help smash the gangs involved and offering advice on how to ­protect ­vehicles.

Ann Scott, Crimestoppers’ eastern ­regional manager, said: “Every day people are being affected by this expensive and inconvenient crime.

“People can play a part in helping to keep the community safe by contacting us with information on catalytic convertor thefts.

“We want to know who is ­stealing them, who is handling them and where they are going.”

Regional Special Operations Units, supported by the police, the Serious ­Organised Crime Agency, HMRC and other government agencies, are stepping up the fight against the thieves. Terry Pearce, from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit covering East Anglia and the northern Home Counties, said: “We are funding Crimestoppers to run this campaign not only because it is costing the economy millions of pounds but because of the human impact it can have on the community.

“We have heard of ambulance service vehicles being put of action due to this criminal activity, which is ­truly despicable – innocent lives are being put at risk due to the greed of thieves.

“Anyone with a vehicle is potentially at risk of being a victim, but in particular van users and 4x4 owners.”

Forces around the country have witnessed a marked increase in recent months but national figures will not be available until later in the year.

In one case four ambulance service vehicles were put out of action in Gwent, Wales, before Christmas.

Vanessa Guyll, from the AA’s technical service, said: “There is only a tiny quantity of precious metal in a catalytic ­converter but it is worth recovering, ­especially if you have plenty of them. We have seen prices vary from between £50 and £125.”

Police are advising car and 4x4 owners to mark catalytic converters by etching a serial number onto them and welding bolts shut to deter a thief trying to steal the unit with a spanner.

Owners of 4x4 vehicles should “park ­defensively” against walls and other low-clearance vehicles to stop thieves getting underneath.

Good security lighting can also help to deter thieves as well as parking in areas or car parks covered by CCTV.