Nottinghamshire Police has arrested three people in connection with catalytic converter thefts in the county after executing warrants in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire.
The recent enforcement activity and arrests follow reports of seven catalytic converter thefts from city car parks on 25 November 2019.
Four were from the Toton Lane park and ride site, two from the Phoenix Park park and ride and one at The Forest Park and Ride.
Two men, aged 29 and 26, were arrested on suspicion of theft after officers carried out a warrant in Bagworth, Leicestershire, on 16 January 2020.
A 21-year-old man was also arrested in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on 14 January 2020 on suspicion of theft.
The three men have been subsequently released under investigation.
Detective Inspector Steve Wragg, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “These two days of enforcement action and resulting arrests shows the positive action we are taking as a force to tackle this crime type, to identify individuals suspected to be involved in offences and to bring them to justice.
“While we have seen a rise in catalytic converter thefts as a force, this is very much a national and regional issue, rather than being just a Nottinghamshire issue.
“We have made arrests and carried out search warrants in relation to catalytic converter thefts and we are using a range of tactics to tackle this issue.
“Catalytic converters, which convert vehicle exhaust emissions into less toxic gasses, are targeted because they contain high value metals.
“Catalytic converter theft can have a big impact on victims as repairs can be costly and time spent without a vehicle can make it difficult for victims to get to work, drop their children off at school and generally go about their daily business.
“As previous incidents have shown, it can take offenders only a matter of seconds to remove a catalytic converter which is why we’re urging members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us.
“As well as enforcement we are also working closely with partners, including car park operators, to look at crime prevention measures and signage to warn and educate drivers of the rise in catalytic converter thefts, as well as offering advice to motorists on steps they can take to protect their vehicles from opportunistic thieves.
“If you see anyone jacking a car up in a public car park or on a public road or if you see anything that doesn’t sit right or anyone acting strangely please call us on 101. If a crime is currently taking place, call 999.
“People should also consider protective marking, and check with their vehicle’s manufacturer to see if there are any protective guards they can purchase.”
In order to minimise the chance of becoming a victim of catalytic converter theft we offer the following advice:
* If you can, park your vehicle in a locked garage when it is unattended.
* If it’s not possible to garage your vehicle, park it in a busy, well-lit area as close to your property as possible.
* Consider installing a Thatcham approved alarm to your vehicle. Ones that activate if your vehicle is lifted or tilted are particularly effective.
* Use a catalytic converter protection device or marking system.
Catalytic converters control and convert exhaust emissions from your vehicle into less toxic substances. If yours is stolen, you will know because your vehicle’s engine will sound different.
If you suspect your catalytic converter has been stolen, report it to police immediately by calling 101.
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