Forum Topic

Catalytic convertor theft - Hadley Gardens

I witnessed three men brazingly stealing a catalytic convertor today from a grey R reg Honda Odessey in Hadley Gardens. When I approached one of them screamed something incomprehensible at me in an east European accent at which stage I backed off. They made off in less than 2 minutes in a dark blue Seat estate with number plates removed. Unfortunately I didn't have my phone on me at the time so couldn't take any photos. Sickening that this can happen in broad daylight (2.30pm) and the perpetrators so openly going about their thieving...

Jim Brown ● 1850d7 Comments

What did the Police have to say?

Brian Coyle ● 1850d

Petrol siphoning will be next soon - if it hasn't started already....

Simon Temple ● 1850d

These crooks are brazen, the crime itself takes no more than a couple of minutes, these people are aggressive. Until the law changes with the easy resale of these items, there's no hope in this type of crime slowing down. I was a victim, now have an unfair claim against my policy despite being a law abiding citizen!

Shamini Saxena ● 1849d

Maybe worth checking if any neighbours have doorbell or CCTV that way you may be able to identify make of the car and perhaps an occupant or two.

Elizabeth Ross ● 1849d

Couldn't agree more and this type of theft has been going on for quite a while. These people couldn't care less. They know they'll get away with it. Scum.

Simon Temple ● 1849d

Older cars are being targeted more frequently now as they contain a larger amount of precious metal in them than newer more efficient cars. I recently watched someones CCTV of a theft. 4 people park up opposite their house and three of them get out, casually walk over to the car. One jacks it up, second goes under the car and cuts it off whilst the third stands guard with a baseball bat. By the time you work out what's going on they have almost finished. Total time was just over 2 minutes. I am told they are usually driving around I stolen cars.

Peter Johnson ● 1849d

Exactly my experience Peter. Brazen theft. I play at Ealing golf club and we had a mirror theft from the car park in broad daylight last year. Difference was, it had been captured on CCTV with very good imagery of the thieves who carried it out. When the golf club called the police on behalf of the car owner however, they were told there was no resource available to investigate and gave a crime reference number for insurance purposes.

Jim Brown ● 1848d