Beware of catalytic converter thieves

Following two incidents in Newbury, Thames Valley Police are warning owners about the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles.

Between Wednesday the fourteenth and Saturday the seventeenth of June, two catalytic converters were stolen in South-East Newbury. Both were taken from the same type of car – the Honda Jazz – in separate occurences in The Nightingales and Jago Court.

Please phone the police on 101 if you have any information about these thefts.

The police say that catalytic converters can be removed within a minute and contain valuable metals which can be sold on. They’re advising a range of preventative measures as follows:

“Protect your car by asking your dealer if they can give you any advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer.

Mark your catalytic converter with a forensic marker and register your converter to make it harder for thieves to dispose of it.

Park your car somewhere well-lit and overlooked, amongst as many cars as possible. Try to park so the converter can’t be easily reached – close to a wall or fence. Try not to park at the end of the row if there are free spaces.”

There is further information from Thames Valley Police on the theft of catalytic converters here, and general advice on thefts from motor vehicles here.