31/01/13…..POLICE warning: Catalytic converter thieves about
THE police are warning vehicle owners to be vigilant after a spate of thefts of Catalytic Converters in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse areas.
Thieves are crawling under vehicles and stealing the Catalytic portion of the exhaust, leaving the vehicles disabled. Sprinter vans, estate cars and people carriers have all been targeted.
Fourteen thefts have been reported in the South Oxon and Vale area between November 2012 and January 2013. Four in Chinnor, three in Didcot, one in Benson, two in Watlington, two in Abingdon and two in Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford.
The most recent theft occurred overnight between 27 and 28 January, in Eason Drive, Abingdon.
Catalytic Converters are widely known by thieves to have a high scrap value due to the metal coating which contains precious metals including platinum.
You can protect vehicles with a CatClamp or property mark Catalytic Convertors using a specially designed security marking kit. Please click on the links below for further details:
http://www.solonsecurity.co.uk/product_info.php?product_id=1037&cat=3
Please be extra vigilant. If you see anyone acting suspiciously in or around vehicles or if you have any information relating to this message, please call the police as soon as possible on the 24 hours non-emergency telephone number 101 or call 999 for crime in progress.
Alternatively if you have information but wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
