Organised gangs nationwide are targeting converters fitted to many brands of van and 4×4, because of the high values of the platinum, rhodium, palladium and other precious metals they employ to clean exhaust emissions. Both types of vehicle are vulnerable to this crime because of their relatively high ground clearance.
Police say that the thieves simply cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust pipe of a parked van. The units are then sold on the black market, leading to a replacement cost of up to £2,000 for the owner.
Since last September Mercedes-Benz has ensured that all exhaust systems on new Sprinter vans are security-etched – with windscreen stickers warning thieves that the “cat” has been marked. It means that should the component be stolen and subsequently recovered, police have a much better chance of bringing a successful prosecution.
Now Hughes of Aylesbury has gone a step further by inviting customers who bought their vans before the manufacturer began etching catalytic converters to bring their vehicles back into its workshops and get the job done free of charge.
In addition to etching each catalytic converter with the vehicle’s registration number, Hughes of Aylesbury is also spraying the unit with UV-tagged forensic paint.
Detective Inspector Ian Wood of Thames Valley Police commented: ‘Catalytic converter theft is becoming increasingly organised and is a problem that affects many different types of vehicle. We are keen, therefore, to work with manufacturers and their dealers to combat this crime by making it more difficult for thieves to steal these items in the first place, and making it easier to bring successful prosecutions when we catch them.
‘So, of course, we fully support Hughes of Aylesbury’s retrospective security marking initiative, which we would like to see other dealers replicate. Not only will it make it less likely that Hughes’ customers become the victims of crime, but it will also make our jobs easier when it comes to recovering stolen items and bringing the perpetrators to justice.’