Eastbourne police have issued a warning about catalytic converter thefts.
They say the precious metal in catalytic converters has led to an increase in their theft.
And this is the advice:
To reduce the risk of theft of your car’s catalytic converter:
-Park your car in a garage or somewhere that makes it difficult for anyone to access its underside
- Install CCTV that captures where you park
- Don’t park your car in one place for long periods of time
- Secure your catalytic converter with extra bolts to make it more difficult to remove
- Try defensive parking against a wall or by another lower vehicle to make it more difficult to get under
- Have a mechanic weld the catalytic converter to the exhaust system
- Park your car in lit up areas or on busy areas
- To keep yours safe, you could also ask your car dealer if they can give you any advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
- Alternatively, try to make sure your vehicle is parked in a garage overnight, or if you have a commercial vehicle park it in a secure compound.
- If this isn’t possible, park in an area that’s well-lit and overlooked and try to park so that the convertor can’t be easily reached by potential thieves. Vehicles that sit high above the road are particularly vulnerable.
- You should also register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of.
- Visit Secured by Design (http://orlo.uk/hBgu4) for more details.