Rise in catalytic converter thefts across New Forest

Advice is being issued to car owners across Hampshire following an increase in catalytic converter thefts from vehicles.

Since the beginning of the year Hampshire Police have recorded an increase in cat converter thefts in areas across the New Forest.

The crime is closely linked to prices of Rhodium and Palladium which are contained within the converters.

The prices of these metals have risen in the last year, which is what the force believe has lead to the number of thefts increasing.

Catalytic converters can be stolen within a few minutes by using just a few basic tools, but there are ways you can protect your vehicle if, like many people, you don’t have access to a garage.

KEEP YOUR VEHICLE SAFE

• *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 wall
• *Avoid parking your vehicle half on the pavement and half on the road, as this may make it easier for 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 car converter back to you
• *You can even 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

If your catalytic converter is stolen, please report it online and include any markings so that police can identify your converter if it’s recovered.

The New Forest local neighbourhood policing teams are continuing to monitor reports and would like to ask local residents to report any suspicious activity to them.

Call 101, or report it online reporting using the reporting tool on the Hampshire Constabulary website.

As always, if a crime is in progress, please dial 999.

• hampshire police
• new forest
• catalytic converter thefts
• crime