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Catalytic Converter, Security Services, Catalytic Converter Thefts, Vehicle Damage, Vehicle Damage

Catalytic Converter Thefts Soar!

Across the UK, Car owners have been urged to take steps to protect both their vehicles from organised crimes surrounding catalytic converters.

According to an investigation conducted by the BBC, thefts of the essential exhaust components rocketed by 600% last year, with drivers footing the bill to replace stolen parts.

Recently, a family in Newport warned other residents to be vigilant after thieves stole their cars catalytic converter. You can read more here

In 2018, there were an estimated 2,000 reports of catalytic converters stolen in England and Wales, but in 2019, the figure rocketed up to nearly 13,000.

But why are catalytic converters being targeted?

Catalytic converters help control and convert vehicle emissions and are seen as an easy high-value target for criminals looking to make quick money. Catalytic converters contain a wealth of precious metals, including rhodium, palladium and platinum which can all be stripped out and sold on or the whole unit can be sold as a spare part – making it virtually untraceable.

With the recent development of hybrid technology, hybrid vehicles are particularly vulnerable as they tend to have lower emissions, meaning the metals in the catalytic converters are less corroded that in traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.

For owners who have been a victim of theft of their Catalytic converter could see a repair bill of more the £1,000. And recently the AA reported that claims can reach as much as £3,000 depending on the damaged the thieve caused when removing the part.

What do the safety experts say?

Clive Wain, head of police liaison at vehicle recovery specialist Tracker, said Owners need to make sure their vehicles are protected from thieves who often simply jack the vehicle up and unbolt the part.

He said “plugin and self-charging hybrids are a highly desirable target for thieves as their catalytic converters, which turn noxious gases (carbon dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxides) in a cars exhaust into less harmful substances, are less corroded than those in a traditional vehicle.

“But there are some simple steps that owners can take to protect their vehicle, including physical barriers to make thieves think twice before targeting their car”

  • Park in a garage or other secure area: if you don’t have access to a garage, try to leave your car in a well-lit and overlooked area.
  • Install CCTV: The one thing thieves don’t want to do is get caught on camera. Installing cameras allows you to monitor your car and catch anyone who is looking to target it.
  • Consider installing a Thatcham approved alarm to your vehicle: As catalytic converters are located towards the front and underneath the car, many thieves will require a jack to gain access to the part. Installing a Thatcham alarm will alert you to your car either being lifted or tilted.
  • Use a catalytic converter protection device: Such as a Catloc or Catclamp which make it hard to access the converter, or have the device etched with a unique serial number.

For further tips on how you can properly protect your vehicle from thieves take a look at our blog here

For more information about our professional Security Services and how they can effectively protect you and your business contact us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

Vehicle theft, theft, vehicle crime, manned guards, mobile patrols, security services, A&R Security services

Did you know that a vehicle is stolen every 9 minutes in the UK?

Across England and Wales, it’s been largely reported that vehicle thefts are on the increase – with reports saying vehicle theft rising by a fifth over the past three years. With vehicle

Last year the DVLA reported that 56,288 vehicles were targeted by thieves last year. That number of vehicles stolen equated to one being stolen every 9 minutes or 154 vehicles being stolen every day.

Which vehicle is stolen the most?

One leasing company (Rivervale leasing) conducted their own investigation and looked at a decade of government data and found that Ford Fiestas were the most targeted vehicle – with 2,384 being stolen last year. They also listed Range Rover, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and BMW 3 series being on the top 10 list for most stolen vehicles in the UK (you can see the full list here)

Premium cars are the most targeted vehicles to be stolen and out of every 5 cars stolen, only two are returned to their owners – with 75% of them being damaged and 22% of them being completely written off.

And it’s not just the vehicles that criminals are targeting, it’s also their parts. With the recent lockdown, many manufacturers of car parts had stopped operations amid worries about their staff safety, leading to a gap in the market for vehicle thieves to target cars for their parts.

Rivervale Leasing found that 34.7% of popular items stolen are exterior fittings such as bumpers, lights, and grills, with 16.5% of electrical equipment being stolen, other vehicle parts being 9.5% and wheels being 2.2%.

Also, recent reports have revealed that there has been an increase in the number of catalytic converters being stolen – with 1,000 being stolen each month in places like London. Insurers have also seen a 600% increase in claims involving catalytic converters – costing an average of £1,000 per claim.

It’s not just a financial impact

Having a vehicle stolen doesn’t just cause a financial impact on a person or business, it can also affect the owner’s mentality with 84% of drivers saying that they have been emotionally affected by their vehicle being stolen.

But is it just personal vehicles being targeted?

No, it’s not just personal vehicles that are being targeted, commercial vehicles are too. Parkers (a van distributor) conducted their own research and found that between 2015-19 van thefts increased by 45% with 10,000 van thefts in 2018/19. During lockdown many abandoned or closed offices, factories or construction sites have also been targets for theft- with construction sites seeing a 50% surge in criminal activity.

Is it opportunist or organised criminal behaviour?

Both. Although many personal vehicles are victims of opportunistic thefts, many vehicles that are kept within compounds such as a construction site, fleet yards or car showrooms are victims of more organised crime (due to security measures). You can see our blog on Car Showroom security here.

So, what steps can you take to ensure the safety of your vehicles?

CCTV:

Many businesses like yours would have CCTV in place to monitor the perimeter of your business but they can only see so far. If you have vehicles that are parked in front or a parked in a compound close by, it is worth investing in further CCTV to ensure that blind spots are covered and you or your security staff can easily monitor and look out for any suspicious activity close by.

Vehicle tracking:

If you have multiple vehicles within your business, installing vehicle tracking allows you to track and monitor their location. So, if a vehicle is stolen from your property or whilst out on-site, it can be easy for you or the police to track its location and apprehend the thieves.

Perimeter fencing and gates

Whether you park your vehicles outside your building or in a compound close by, having perimeter fencing and gates will provide extra protection for your vehicles. However, it is important to choose sturdy fencing and gates as some fencing and gates can become easily damaged by criminals trying to get in.

Invest in physical security

To some physical security guards can seem like an expensive investment but actually it can save you money in the long run. Outsourcing your physical security to us means that you don’t have costly uniform, training or vetting fees to look at and allows you to get on and run your business, whilst we effectively protect your business and your vehicles with our manned guards and mobile patrols.

Manned guards:

Although having manned guards to protect your work vehicles may seem excessive to some, they are an effective way to deter criminals. Manned guards can be used to monitor CCTV camera’s 24/7 for any activity close to your business or vehicles and quickly respond to any disturbances of any attempts to damage or steal your vehicles. Manned guards can also be placed in front of main gates to monitor activity coming in and out of your property or vehicle compound, ensuring that only authorised personnel are allowed access to your vehicles.

Mobile patrols:

Mobile patrols are another effective deterrent against criminals and compliment our manned guarding services. Whereas manned guards can be used to monitor activity via CCTV or being stationed by main gates and access points, mobile patrols guards can patrol single or multiple areas – depending on the size of your property – at regular or irregular intervals and can quickly respond to any disturbances that are located at a different location.

Both our physical guard services can greatly benefit your business and are effective deterrents against criminals looking to target your vehicles.

To find out more about our manned guards, mobile patrols services or any other security services then visit our website here or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a meeting.