We wanted to highlight some crime prevention advice relating to catalytic converters after a recent rise in reports. From the start of the year we’ve received 31 reports, that’s compared to five reports in the previous four months across Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
Of the reports received 12 have been in the New Forest, six in Test Valley, four in East Hampshire. Areas including Hart & Rushmoor, Fareham and Havant have also been affected.
In general these reports have related to vehicles in car parks or on roads as opposed to outside the front of a property. They have happened during daylight as well as at night. Cars including: Honda CRV, Honda Jazz, Lexus, Toyota Auris, and Prius, have been targeted.
Catalytic converters are devices fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted. Their theft is closely linked to prices of Rhodium and Palladium, which are contained within the converters. The prices of these metals have increased over recent years and this is what we believe has contributed to the number of thefts increasing. They can be removed in less than a minute.
Catalytic converter theft most frequently occurs in car parks, but they can happen anywhere. Thieves may then sell these converters via scrapyards, online, or ship them out of the country.
Hybrid vehicles are most commonly targeted, as their metals are more valuable, but any vehicle can be at risk of catalytic converter theft.
However, there are ways you can protect your vehicle if, like many people, you don’t have access to a garage:
• Find out where your catalytic converter is located on your car; if it’s at the front of your car, park with the bonnet towards a wall if possible
• If it’s at the back, park it with your exhaust to the wall
• If parking in a public car park, consider parking alongside other cars and incorporating a wall
• Avoid parking your vehicle half on the pavement and half on the road, as this may make it easier for thieves to get under your car
• If your catalytic converter is bolted on, you can ask for your local garage to weld the bolts to make it more difficult to remove
• Alternatively, you can also etch a serial number on the converter so that if it is stolen and then recovered, we can get your converter back to you
• You can purchase a ‘cage clamp’ which is a cage device that locks in around the converter to make it more difficult to remove
• Speak to your dealership or garage about the possibility of adding a tilt sensor that will activate the alarm should any thief try to jack the vehicle up to steal the converter
• If you see someone acting suspiciously under a vehicle, report it. Obtain as much information as possible, including any vehicle registrations.
You can find more crime prevention advice here: Catalytic converter theft/Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary
In the event your catalytic converter is stolen, please report online via our website Hampshire Police and include any markings so that we can identify your converter if it is recovered.
If you’re a scrap metal dealer and someone has tried to sell you a Catalytic Converter, please let us know.
If you’re worried about reporting something to the police, you can report 100% anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.
More about how to keep your business safe from criminal sellers here Crimestoppers
Our local officers are monitoring reports and continue to encourage people to report any suspicious activity.
