Warning: Catalytic Converter Thieves Reported in Barnehurst (Black VW Golf - GL67 NXB)

An alert has been posted on the Barnehurst Gossip Facebook page regarding potential catalytic converter thefts in the area.

Incident Details

• Location: Barnehurst / Bexley area

• Activity: Masked individuals targeted for catalytic converter theft

• Vehicle Involved: Black Volkswagen Golf

• Registration: GL67 NXB (reported as potential cloned/fake plates)

Prevention & Action Advice

• Park Securely: Whenever possible, park in a garage or well-lit, busy area close to fences, walls, or other vehicles to restrict access underneath your car.

• Etch or Mark Your Converter: Consider getting your catalytic converter marked with a unique serial number or fitting an approved anti-theft device/cage.

• Report Suspicious Behaviour: If you see anyone acting suspiciously around parked vehicles or attempting a theft in progress, call 999 immediately. Do not confront the individuals yourself. Non-urgent reports or information can be submitted to the Metropolitan Police via 101 or online.

Sidcup Police Joint Task Force Arrests Suspect and Recovers Stolen Car Parts in 'Op Airiam' Operation

On 9th March 2023, a joint task force comprised of officers from Sidcup Police conducted 'Op Airiam' at the Darent Industrial site.

The operation targeted vehicle crime, scrap metal theft, and the theft of telecom cabling. During the operation, officers conducted a stop search of a vehicle and discovered over 80 catalytic converters.

A subsequent search of a nearby compound located 9 stolen car engines.

As a result of the operation, one male was arrested. The successful outcome of 'Op Airiam' is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our officers in tackling crime and keeping our community safe.

Source: MPSSidcup

Free Catalytic Converter Marking and Vehicle Crime prevention stand

The Safer Neighbourhoods Policing Team are holding a FREE catalytic converter marking event this Friday (17^th February) starting at 10.00 am in the TESCO's car park, Edgington Way, Sidcup.

 All motorists are welcome to have their vehicles checked to see whether they have a  convertor susceptible to easily being stolen.

Toyota Auris catalytic converter theft - appeal/alert for information

Please beware that on friday 20 January 2023 at 13:35pm at Bexley station car park, offenders stole a catalytic converter from a Toyota Auris parked there.

The local resident discovered the theft on her return from the train at approximately 16:30pm, reported the theft to British Transport Police (BTP) who gave her a crime reference number, and posted the alert on Nextdoor.

It appears this Bexley station car park is a target for such thefts despite the presence of onsight CCTV. Please be vigilant when parking there and take steps to make it harder for these brazen and callous thieves.

This is an appeal to residents to check your CCTV or dashcam footage or If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious, or have any information related to this incident then please contact stmarys.stjames.snt@met.police.uk or on 020 8721 2816 or call Police on 101 or alternatively you can call them above or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.

To reduce the risk of having your catalytic converter stolen you could

1. 1) Purchase anti-theft products such as Catloc - a Sold Secure approved product (how to prevent catalytic convert theft here)
2. 2) Park to restrict access to the underneath of the car
3. 3) Ask your dealer to weld the catalytic converter to the car
4. 4) Fit a tilt alarm
5. 5) Register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker (e.g. SmartWater), which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of.

Check out this blog for further advice and information.

Visit Met Police on 'Keeping Vehicles Safe' and 'catalytic converter theft'.

Consider reporting using BTP 'Railway Guardian'.

Warning and How to Prevent Keyless Car Theft

As days are getting darker, see also tips to prevent car thefts on the rise (given last year) and crime prevention & security advice.

Single shaft steering wheel locks are not as secure as a 'Disklock'. Thatcham approved.

Thatcham Approved Disklok

Covers the whole steering wheel. Some insurance companies offer reduction if fitted. Thieves can't easily saw through bar or wheel. The above are easily available online (example Amazon - click on the caption links in the images shown above), however it is a good idea to shop around for the particular size and build quality to suit your car needs.

Operation to tackle motor vehicle crime sees 17 stolen vehicles recovered

A two-day operation saw 17 stolen vehicles recovered and 14 arrests made as more than 60 officers came together to tackle a rise in motor vehicle crime causing concern to local communities.

Operation Huntsman was a large cross border operation involving officers from the Met and Kent Police using Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to track down offenders.

A total of 15 vehicles were also seized and 16 traffic offences reported during the operation. The arrests were made for suspected offences including robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, possession with intent to supply class A drugs, dangerous driving and failing to stop for police. Among the stolen vehicles recovered were a BMW, a Jaguar and a delivery van containing parcels.

Several weapons were found including knives, a baseball bat and a stun gun.

The operation built on the work of a new motor vehicle crime unit set up by the Met’s South East Command Unit a year ago. This followed concerns raised by Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham residents around motor vehicle crime with more than half of local ward panels choosing this as a priority issue to tackle.

The area has seen a rise in offences, particularly high value keyless car thefts and catalytic converter thefts. Last year there were 2,608 vehicle thefts in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham. In the first nine months of this year, almost 300 of one make of vehicle alone were stolen from Greenwich, Lewisham and Bromley, and Dartford and Sevenoaks in Kent. Of 4,606 offences of theft from a vehicle, 18 per cent were of catalytic converters.

Many of these have been violent offences with gangs arming themselves with baseball bats, iron bars, machetes and more recently BB guns. As well as stealing cars to sell on, either complete or for parts, offenders also use the vehicles to commit other crimes.

Officers have spent the last year gathering information about individuals and organised crime gangs and carrying out a range of operations. These have concentrated on violent criminals using the road network and motor vehicle thieves who cross the Met/Kent border to commit offences.

Successes include in February the recovery of a pistol, silencer and 11 rounds of ammunition linked to the theft of a high value car in Bexley.

Chief Inspector Russ Joao, from South East Command Unit, said: “We’ve really listened to what local people have been telling us they are concerned about. The rise in motor vehicle crime has had a big impact on the lives of many of our residents and we’ve taken significant action over the last 12 months to tackle this issue.

“Alongside our new proactive unit working day in and day out, Operation Huntsman allowed us to work with colleagues in Kent Police to actively target offenders with some great results.

“Our work does not stop here and there will be more operations in the future as well as crime prevention initiatives, such as catalytic converter marking events, to help people avoid becoming a victim of this type of offence.”

The operation on 28 and 29 September involved officers from Met local policing teams, the Roads and Transport Policing Command, the Violence Suppression Unit, ANPR Interceptor teams, the National Police Air Service and Kent’s Swanley Community Policing Team. Also invited to see the operation were the chairs of Sidcup and St Mary and St James ward panels so they could let their local communities know the action being taken to tackle the issue.

The operation focused on the areas south of the A2 to north of the A20 and the A2 Bexley Village North through Crayford and up to Slade Green and Erith. Of those arrested, two have been charged with more minor offences and the remainder released under investigation or bailed while enquiries continue.

Here's what you can do to help keep your vehicle safe:

• Always leave your car locked and secured. Lots of modern vehicles fold in their wing mirrors when locked – so very easy for thieves to spot when a vehicle has not been locked.
• Take valuables with you when you leave the vehicle.
• Consider investing in steering wheel locks, pedal locks, immobilisers and tracking devices.
• Key fob protectors (Faraday bags) help prevent keyless car thefts.
• Consider installing driveway posts.
• Visit the Secured by Design website for more information – https://www.securedbydesign.com/guidance/crime-prevention-advice/vehicle-crime

+ We're investing in what we call 'precise community crime fighting' - involving communities in our decisions to tackle issues that matter to them.

Source: Met News (11/10/2022)

Sidcup Police marking catalytic converters with free smart water kits

On Sunday 13th and Monday 14th February the team will be at Sainsbury, Crayford marking catalytic converters with free smart water kits. We will also register them for you for free. The team will be there from 10am on both days. Spread the word! pic.twitter.com/v8i1cEWtct

— Sidcup Police (@MPSSidcup) February 9, 2022

 https://twitter.com/MPSSidcup/status/1491526171217080326/photo/2

Another BMW Cat theft in East Wickham - Appeal for information

Please be aware that on Tuesday 18 January 2022 20:31hrs 3 male offenders jacked up a car and cut off it's catalytic convertor and stole it from the car, a BMW, year 2009, from the resident's drive in Montrose Avenue, Welling. The resident immediately alerted the brazen incident on her Neighbourhood Watch Whatsapp group, followed by reporting it to the Police and given a crime reference.

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

Another resident reported a silver van like ford connect transit hanging about the bridge and turned in towards Welling Way that maybe linked to this crime. This crime is very similar to a recent BMW cat theft in the area and about the same time.

This is an appeal to residents to check your CCTV footage or If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious, or have any information related to this incident then please contact East Wickham Police on 101, or 020 8721 2025, or via email at eastwickham.snt@met.police.uk alternatively you can call them above or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.

Catalytic Converter event and note of arrest

Sidcup/Longlands Ward

Good work by the police resulted in two people being arrested and their untaxed/uninsured car towed after they were caught trying to steel catalytic converters in Morrisons Car Park Sidcup in the early hours of Saturday morning.

St.Mary's & St James Ward

Your local police team along with their colleagues will be holding a catalytic converter marking event this Tuesday 18^th January 2022.

The event will take place from 11am at Sainsbury car park in Crayford.

If you have any of the models listed below registered between 2000-2016 then please pop down to Sainsbury, Crayford and officers can mark your catalytic converter as well as registering it for free.

If you have any other models and you’re unsure then please pop down and your police team will have a look for you. (see list below) 

Most vulnerable vehicles are

Toyota Prius, Auris & Yaris

Honda Civic, Jazz & CRV

Lexus.

Cat theft in East Wickham - Appeal for information

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

BMW Cat theft in East Wickham

On Wednesday 5^th January at 8.28pm in Harriet Mews (off Leigh Place) 3 men jacked up a car and cut off it's catalytic convertor.  A car drove into the cul de sac and turned around, the men got out as the driver drove out of the road (with car lights off) and waited in Leigh Place.  The men took exactly 30 seconds to lift the car up and remove the catalytic convertor!  The BMW's alarm was going off and yet this did not perturb the thieves.  The 3 men made off on foot to get into the waiting car.

This is an appeal to residents to check your CCTV footage or If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious, or have any information related to this incident then please contact East Wickham Police on 101 or alternatively you can call them above or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 1111.

Tips to prevent car thefts on the rise

Car Steering Wheel Lock

The borough has seen lots of cars being stolen and one of the good old fashioned ways to prevent this theft is to fit a steering wheel lock as shown in the image.

If you have keyless entry or smart key,  a Faraday pouch which has a RFID blocker as an anti-theft protection bag is also a great idea as shown in the image below.

Faraday pouch which has a RFID blocker

The above are easily available online (example Amazon - click on the caption links in the images shown above), however it is a good idea to shop around for the particular size and build quality to suit your car needs.

Make sure you lock your cars even on your drive, if you have auto-locking fobs do not leave them close to the front of your properties as they can be cloned. (this has happened to quite a few of Bexleys residents). Using the above measures makes it harder to have your car being stolen.

If you have a catalytic converter, check with your manufacturer on advice to prevent its theft.

Type in 'car theft' in the search box on this blog to find further help and advice on this subject.

Useful articles on it here at How to avoid keyless car theft and Best Faraday bag car key signal blockers 2021 and Car security: how to keep your car and driveway protected.

 

Catalytic converter theft is up by more than 100%, new Which? research reveals

Exclusive data obtained by Which? shows that, between 2019 and 2020 alone, incidents of catalytic converter theft in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (Police Scotland refused our request) rose a staggering 104% on average. This rise is despite the various national lockdowns in 2020, when the vast majority of people and their cars were at home.

With a ban on petrol and diesel cars on the horizon, you’d be forgiven for thinking your car’s catalytic converter would soon be resigned to the dustbin of history. For thousands of motorists up and down the country though, this decades-old emissions-control device has been the cause of significant repair bills and even complete write-offs, as a new crimewave has swept the UK.

A combination of factors including surging global demand for vehicles, as well as a slump in mining during the pandemic, has meant that the price of the precious metals contained within catalytic converters has risen exponentially. At the time of our investigation, an ounce of rhodium cost more than a brand-new Honda Jazz.

This hasn’t escaped the attention of criminals. With a single scrap catalytic converter currently worth around £400, organised gangs are targeting dozens of cars each day. Our research reveals that older Toyota and Honda models are particularly at risk.

It doesn’t help that we found ads offering cash for scrap converters on Facebook Marketplace. Posting such ads was made an offence under the 2013 Scrap Metal Dealers Act.

Read on to find out about thefts in your area, what authorities and car manufacturers are doing to tackle the problem and what Facebook told us. Plus learn how to minimise the chance of your car being targeted.

Source: Which? [21 June 2021] to read on and how to minimise the risk.

Organised criminals can remove catalytic converters from under a vehicle in a matter of minutes

Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as rhodium, platinum, and palladium which ‘clean’ exhaust gases. The sharp rise in the value of these metals over recent years has driven up the rate of catalytic converter theft. Palladium is currently more valuable than gold, meaning that a catalytic converter can sell for more than £500 on the black market.

If you have information on those behind catalytic converter theft, contact Crimestoppers  100% anonymously.

Catalytic converter theft is a crime and leaves drivers with an average replacement bill of £1,300. In some cases, the vehicle may even be written off by the damage caused by thieves sawing converters from the exhaust. This crime can also cause immense stress and anxiety to victims, with some drivers being repeatedly targeted. 

If you are approached to buy catalytic converters which you suspect may be stolen, you can contact us 100% anonymously to tell us what you know. 

CONTACT CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111

We don’t need to know your name, just as much information as you can give us, such as the whereabouts of the criminals and who they are selling the metal to. Under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act of 2013, dealers must verify the name and address of the supplier and record a receipt of the exchange and must not pay cash for scrap metal.

Those selling stolen catalytic converters may :-

• Want to be paid in cash and make no record of the transaction.
• Refuse to provide proof of identity.
• Refuse to disclose where the devices came from.

Here are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of your vehicle being targeted:

• Avoid parking half on the pavement, half on the road, as this may provide thieves with easier access to the underside of your vehicle.
• Park your vehicle in a locked garage whenever possible.
• Try to park in busy, well-lit areas, or areas covered by CCTV.
• Install an under-car alarm system.
• Ask your garage to tell you your catalytic converter's serial number and make a note of it.
• Consider purchasing forensic liquid and using it to mark your catalytic converter.
• Place a protective covering over your catalytic converter.
• If you have a fleet of vehicles, try to restrict access to high ground clearance vehicles by blocking them with lower vehicles.
• Driving without a catalytic converter is illegal, as your vehicle will produce emissions above the permitted standard, which means police can issue drivers with a fine of up to £1,000 if a catalytic converter is missing. 
• You should be able to tell if your car’s catalytic converter has been stolen when starting up, as the exhaust will likely sound much louder.
• On discovery of the theft, do not drive your car. Instead contact your local police station and your insurance provider to arrange a repair.

Officers around London have seized thousands of pounds worth of stolen vehicles, around fifty thousand pounds in cash and a quantity of drugs. Officers seized nine vehicles from the site in east London for using falsified license plates.

Officers also attended a metal processing plant in Hackney and discovered tens of catalytic converters believed to have been stolen from vehicles, as well as a smouldering machine. Police also found what they believe to be quantities of stolen metal, likely to have originated from railways and telecommunications masts.

On the Essex coast, police officers intercepted a shipping container believed to contain stolen metal and car parts, which was due to be shipped to the Ivory Coast to be processed and refined.

Det Chief Insp James Stanyer, lead officer for motor vehicle crime, said: “The criminals involved in stealing catalytic converters often commit their offences in full view of the owners of the vehicle and other members of the public, leaving them shocked and terrorised.

“Today’s operation is the culmination of a year-long investigation led by police officers from the Met’s Neighbourhood Policing teams, working with the British Transport Police, Kent and Essex Police, and the Government Agency Intelligence Network. "The intelligence gathered during this investigation will ultimately lead to more proactive work to prevent this crime and bring those involved in it to face the consequences of their actions.” He added: “The team has worked relentlessly to understand exactly how those we suspect to be involved in this crime operate and apply that knowledge to the Met’s longer-term strategies to combat criminals who commit catalytic converter theft. “Though we know that multiple models and brands of vehicles are targeted, we are delighted to learn that Toyota has now undertaken a national catalytic converter marking programme.

“This marking scheme, which the Met has worked closely with Toyota to bring to fruition, will workat the root of the problem to minimize the opportunity for crime. Marking catalytic converters can dramatically improve the likelihood of our ability to unite stolen parts with their rightful owners.

“Police will now conduct the evidence gathering process at the sites in order to build a profile demonstrating the scale of the criminal damage these people have caused and submit our findings to the Crown Prosecution Service.” A Government Agency Intelligence Network (GAIN) (London) spokesman said: “Government agencies and law enforcement partners are committed to reducing the risk, threat and harm from serious and organised crime in London. “This operation has involved months of collaborative hard work by GAIN and the London Regional Intelligence Partnership (LRIP), who are dedicated to disrupting and dismantling criminal enterprises. "Today’s executive action is an excellent example of multiple agencies working together to have a long-term impact on the theft and international shipping of catalytic converters.”

Information shared with thanks via Colin Freeman's Blog for Essex County Council NWA

PROTECT YOUR CAR (AND MOTORCYCLE) – LEAVE IT LOCKED, LIT AND EMPTY

Due to Covid-19 and repeated lockdowns, people aren’t using their cars as much as they used to. However, car crime remains a pressing problem in the UK – alarmingly, one car is stolen every ten minutes.

Whilst we can't always prevent it there are simple steps we can all take to reduce our chances of becoming a victim of car crime. 

Leave your car locked
A simple mistake that can prove calamitous: 44% of cars were broken into via an unlocked door.
 
Leave your car well-lit
80% of car crime occurs during the evening or at night. Parking near streetlamps or in a busy area can deter thieves.
 
Leave your car empty or with no items on show
Owners often forget that personal belongings within the car are at as much risk of being stolen as the car itself.

TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CAR SAFE

Following 3 simple steps (leave your car locked, well-lit, and empty) will help to keep your car safe, but there are further steps you could take:

• * Store car ownership information at home, not in your car
• * Secure number plates with anti-theft screws available from car accessory stores
• * Keep your car keys out of sight in your home 
• * Use a Sold Secure www.soldsecure.com approved anti-theft device on your car. You can search for suppliers on www.securedbydesign.com 
• * When parking in a car park, look for a ‘Park Mark’ www.parkmark.co.uk indicating the car park meets recognised security levels 
• * Fit locking, anti-tamper wheel nuts to secure alloy wheels
• * Secure items outside of your vehicle. Anything left on roof-racks, tailgate racks, holiday top boxes or in tool chests are easily stolen when the vehicle is parked. The use of cable locks, padlocks and self-locking tools chests, which are secured to the vehicle, makes them more secure, but still, don’t leave things in them if you can avoid it.

Protect your car flyer (pdf)

CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFT

Catalytic converters are targeted because of the precious metals that they are made with, namely rhodium, platinum and palladium. Thieves simply cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust pipe of a parked car and sell them on to scrap metal dealers. Taller vehicles are more vulnerable as the catalytic converters are easier to access.

To reduce the risk of having your catalytic converter stolen you could

1. 1) Purchase anti-theft products such as Catloc - a Sold Secure approved product (how to prevent catalytic convert theft here)
2. 2) Park to restrict access to the underneath of the car
3. 3) Ask your dealer to weld the catalytic converter to the car
4. 4) Fit a tilt alarm
5. 5) Register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of

For more information on catalytic converter theft, have a look at this BBC One Inside Out Catalytic Converter Theft video

KEYLESS CAR THEFT

Keyless car theft – also known as relay theft –is relatively simple.  With a relay amplifier and a relay transmitter, a thief can detect whether the car has keyless entry. Working in pairs they identify a house with a car parked nearby and one person stands by the car with a transmitter, while a second waves an amplifier around the perimeter of the house. If the car key is close enough the amplifier will detect its signal, amplify it, and send it to the accomplice’s transmitter.

This transmitter then effectively becomes the key, and tricks the car into thinking the real key is nearby. The thieves can then open the car, get in and drive away.

The whole process can take as little as 60 seconds and can be completed in near silence.

TOP TIPS TO AVOID KEYLESS THEFT

To avoid keyless car theft remember DISTANCE, SIGNAL, STEERING WHEEL.

• KEEP KEYS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR: Keeping keys far away from doors and windows. This will minimise the chances a thief will be able to find and amplify the key’s signal and is general good practice.
• BLOCK  OR TURN OFF THE SIGNAL: Consider purchasing a Faraday pouch to keep your car key in. These pouches contain signal-blocking materials that stop your key transmitting its code, preventing crooks from being able to detect and amplify the signal. Check your manual or speak to your dealer to find out if your key can be switched off
• STEERING WHEEL LOCK: Consider using a steering wheel lock, a driveway parking post, or even a wheel clamp

For more information and further tips look at this 'Keyless could be Carless' information sheet from West Yorkshire Police. (pdf)

PROTECT YOUR MOTORCYCLE, MOPED or SCOOTER

To protect you motorcycle, moped or scooter remember LOCK, CHAIN, COVER.

LOCK: use a disc lock to help secure the front brake disc, or a grip lock to secure the brake and throttle controls. You could also use a D lock on the front wheel to stop it being wheeled away.

CHAIN: Use a chain lock through the back wheel (the front wheel can be removed). Chain your bike to something heavy, even when in a garage. You can fit specific attachments to lock your bike to at home.

COVER: Thieves often ‘shop’ for particular bike models. Using a cover instantly makes it less attractive to them. A cover also provides another time consuming obstacle for the thief.

For more information on LOCK, CHAIN, COVER see the Protect your motorcycle page from Met Police.

Further tips

• * Set its alarm if it has one
• * Use a designated motorcycle parking place with a stand and security loop if you can
• * Mark your motorbike with its vehicle identification number
• * Add a ‘kill switch’ which prevents the start button from working unless pressed
• * Never leave loose items such as helmets or other possessions with your bike

Reporting a crime

If you are unlucky and have been a victim of crime you can report it in several ways:

• If it’s an emergency and the crime is still taking place, call 999 and ask for the police.
• If it’s not an emergency, do not call 999. This doesn’t mean the crime is not important – it just helps the police to make the best use of their resources. Many police forces use the 101 non-emergency number, so you can ring that number instead.
• You can go to your local police station and report the crime there. You can find the address and telephone number in the local telephone directory or online. Check what time your local police station is open, as not all stations are open all the time.
• If you have information regarding a crime and don’t want to talk to the police, contact the charity Crimestoppers online or call 0800 555 111. You will remain 100% anonymous. Always.

Please note: Neighbourhood Watch does not take reports of crime.

Following a crime

• Prevent others becoming a victim: Tell your Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator: They can warn others in your area of the crime whilst keeping your confidentiality if you wish. The quicker you act, the sooner you might stop someone else becoming a victim. 
• Support for yourself: If you have been affected by crime and need confidential emotional support or advice on what to do next, you can contact Victim Support on 08 08 16 89 111.

Catalytic Converter theft From Safer Neighbourhood Board

 

There has been a surge in the number of catalytic converters being stolen in London, with thieves becoming increasingly violent, police say.

The Met's motor vehicle crime unit investigated nearly 15,000 reports of such thefts in 2020, compared to 9,500 over the previous year.

The devices, which reduce the emission of pollutants, contain precious metals.

More than 300 officers took part in raids on Tuesday across east London, Kent and Essex.

They also intercepted a shipping container, believed to contain stolen metal and car parts, which was due to be transported to the Ivory Coast to be processed and refined.

Two men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit theft and a third on suspicion of theft.

• Catalytic converter thefts in England and Wales rise sixfold

A large number of catalytic converters and vehicles were seized by police, who also discovered cash, drugs and tools, including a smelting machine.

Det Ch Insp James Stanyer, the Met's lead officer for motor vehicle crime, said: "The criminals involved in stealing catalytic converters often commit their offences in full view of the owners of the vehicle and other members of the public, leaving them shocked and terrorised."

With more people at home because of lockdown restrictions, owners of cars parked on driveways are feeling increasingly vulnerable.

"People are feeling less safe, because of the way they're willing to use violence if necessary if uncovered or disturbed," Det Ch Insp Stanyer told BBC London.

It is believed a rise in prices of metals such as palladium and rhodium, commonly found in converters, triggered the increase in thefts.

Dedicated gangs are able to remove a converter from beneath a car in a matter of moments, leaving victims with a huge repair bill.

One victim, Mo Talukder from Islington in north London, must pay out £2,000 after four men targeted her car, with the theft witnessed by neighbours.

"They cut wires at the front of the car. When they were challenged, they threatened to ram anyone who spoke to them," she said.

Full article at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-56502390

Catalytic Converter Theft arrests and crime prevention advice

Three males have been arrested in an operation cracking down on the thefts of catalytic converters in Bexley. 

The arrests took place in Watery Lane in Sidcup, and saw officers from MPS Longlands, MPS St Marys, MPS Blackfen, MPS Blendon and Kent Police Sevenoaks take part.

On November 15, police reported that a catalytic converter had been stolen from a VW Golf at Queen Mary Hospital.

Another case was reported in a Morrisons car park on November 2 in Sidcup.

Welling Police has also warned that "we as a borough are currently seeing a rise in Catalytic Converter theft," and shared some advice on how to prevent it.

Source of this news has been reported in the newshopper.

Visit The Crime Prevention website for some useful advice. The Met Police Crime prevention on this topic has useful tips. Also, the Secured by Design website has some guidance on keeping your vehicle safe. A CAT Marking Kit is also available and has been reported here previously.