Reality Check: Thefts of catalytic converters, Rescue mission after glacier bursts India dam. The figures were released to 5 Live Investigations by police forces in England and Wales. Rescue mission after glacier bursts India dam1, 'First major snowstorm in decade' hits Netherlands2, Oxford jab offers less S Africa Covid protection3, Heavy snow and strong winds hit parts of the UK4, Snatched from a beach to train North Korea's spies5, Largest protests in Myanmar in more than a decade6, The country that's rejecting the Covid vaccine7, Over 12 million in UK have had first Covid jab8, 21 contenders to watch during 2021 awards season10. Prices have rocketed for rhodium, platinum and palladium, with palladium selling more per gram than gold last year. “I’d rather give you a $150 if you won’t steal a $900 piece from my car,” said Wurzberg. On Toyota’s UK website there are nearly 1,000 postings from customers, many furious at the ease with which the converters can be stolen and the lack of warnings from the carmaker. A catalytic converter is a device on the exhaust that reduces the toxic gases and pollutants. While offences tailed off at the start of lockdown, anecdotal evidence suggests they are on the rise again - with a recent spate of thefts from hospital car parks targeting NHS staff. •Use a catalytic converter protection device or marking system. "For those who are worried about falling victim to this type of theft, try parking your car in a way which would make it difficult for thieves to slide under the car to access the catalytic converter. "Titanium, platinum, copper are some of … There is a legitimate market for second-hand catalytic converters, which turn the noxious gases in a car's exhaust system into less harmful substances. "Then I switched on my engine and the noise coming from the car was like a motorbike - I thought the engine had blown up. Tracy Howl, a photographer from south-east London, had her "cat" stolen at a retail park in broad daylight earlier this month. In Berkshire, a paramedic had her car stolen, which meant she couldn’t get to work. Two men and a woman have been arrested after a series of police raids connected to catalytic converter thefts. pic.twitter.com/WYSBseuN4W. 2 guys attempt to steal catalytic converter from our car. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” Brazen. Video, Trapped man rescued from tunnel after dam collapse, India couple takes the plunge to marry underwater. Replacing a stolen catalytic converter can cost more than £1,000, with the AA reporting that claims can reach as much as £3,000 depending on the … "Councils are targeting their limited resources as efficiently as possible and can take enforcement action where issues are identified," she said. News Crime 70 catalytic converters stolen from vehicles around Lancashire Around catalytic convertors have been stolen from vehicles in Lancashire since August last … Last year, there were almost 13,000 recorded thefts of the devices, with Londoners particularly badly hit. VideoTrapped man rescued from tunnel after dam collapse, Largest protests in Myanmar in more than a decade, Snatched from a beach to train North Korea's spies, 21 contenders to watch during 2021 awards season, India couple takes the plunge to marry underwater. The UK towns and cities with the most catalytic converter thefts have been revealed, as well as those that have seen the biggest increases in the crime. Thefts of catalytic converters from cars in England and Wales rose sixfold in 2019. These metals can be worth more than gold and a catalytic converter can be worth between £500-£1000 in scrap value. Inspector Dave Stephenson said: “As the price of metals such as platinum and palladium have risen, many areas of the UK have seen increased reports of catalytic converters being stolen. They leave. Unfortunately, catalytic converter theft is common, and they can be costly to replace. What is Catalytic Converter & How Are They Stolen? Around 13,000 catalytic converters have been stolen since 2013, with 1,245 nicked in 2017 alone. What happens to your body in extreme heat? That represents a year-on-year increase of 2700 percent. She asks why her car has been targeted for this type of theft she said. "Police forces across the country are involved in planning and undertaking intelligence-led operations, at both the regional and national level, to stop converters from being stolen, as we recognise the devastating impact these crimes can have upon the lives of victims," she said. They contain a ceramic honeycombed core coated with metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium. "Councils have limited powers to tackle unlicensed operators and the LGA has called on government to introduce greater enforcement powers to help local authorities tackle rogue operators.". For the first six months of 2019, the number of thefts of catalytic converters jumped to 2,894, compared to 1,674 thefts for all of 2018. In 2018, there were just over 2,000 thefts. Catalytic converters contain precious metals. Precious metals, like platinum, in catalytic converters can be worth over $100 at scrapyards. The stolen equipment isn't resold, but instead sold for scraps. ", Source: She now faces a repair bill running into hundreds of pounds. There are also anti-theft devices you can buy and fit to your car to prevent unwanted attention. And these four cars are being earmarked as prime targets. Part of the problem is that thousands of scrap dealers simply chose to drop out of the licensing scheme when the Scrap Metal Dealers Act came into force. 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