Police issue warning after catalytic converter stolen in Shotton overnight

Police have issued a warning following the theft of  a catalytic converter from vehicle in Shotton last night.

North Wales Police Eastern Community Safety Division posted an update on social media people to be aware after theft from a Toyota Prius on Woodland Street in Shotton.

They have also advised people to park with their car exhaust as near to a wall or fence as possible.

@DeesideDotCom @wrexham
Beware – thieves are out and about stealing catalytic converters. One has been stolen off a Toyota Prius overnight last night on Woodland St in Shotton.
Park your car in a way that makes it difficult – park so that the exhaust is nearest to fence/wall pic.twitter.com/q46BLUT2jg

— Diogelwch Cymunedol Y Dwyrain / Com Safety East (@NWPComSafEast) November 20, 2020

According to the the RAC, prices of precious metals used in car exhaust systems have exploded in recent months, with palladium worth £1,300 per ounce, and rhodium selling for £4,000 per ounce.

With only a small amount of the metals present in converters, criminals can sell the part on for £200 or more to unscrupulous scrap-metal dealers.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “Catalytic converters contain a honeycomb coated with precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, which help to reduce and filter the harmful gases from the vehicles’ exhaust systems. When global values of these metals go up so do scrap prices and this usually leads to a spate of thefts.

“Vans and 4×4 vehicles, which are higher off the ground and therefore easier to crawl underneath, are regular targets, as are certain cars where the catalytic converters are relatively easy to get at when quickly jacked up.

“Any motorist who has their vehicle’s catalytic converter stolen faces a repair bill running into thousands of pounds. With Christmas fast approaching this is the last thing drivers need.”

Manufacturers have introduced measures to prevent the crime wave, fitting protective trays and placing converters in the engine bay on newer models to make them harder to reach.

The police advise marking converters with a serial number, parking vehicles so as to prevent access underneath and using protective coverings and CCTV.