Forum Topic

Stolen catalytic converter

Hi, Just a word of warning to anyone with older cars (especially Japanese makes apparently). I had my catalytic converter stolen within a 2-hour window on Belmont Terrace (right off the High Road), on this busy, sunny Saturday afternoon just gone. Apparently you can have cages fitted to deter the thieves. I urge you to do it. They don't just take the Cat, they slice your exhaust off and cut through lines. They will get a few hundred quid for the metal but my beloved car now may be a write-off as she's old and the cost to fix her is more than she's worth. Heartbroken. Please make sure you get the cage so it doesn't happen to you.

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1840d13 Comments

Hi Kelly-Ann sorry to hear this, see my post from a couple of weeks back when I witnessed first hand likely the same gang in action just off Dukes Road at 2pm. Brazen theft from an R reg Honda. Got screamed at as they drove off in a number plate-less vehicle. It'll continue as long as they get away with it...

Jim Brown ● 1840d

Wow really? You just know absolutely nothing will happen to them don't you. A lady actually filmed the guys taking mine but the police were not hopeful. Thanks for your kind message Jim.

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1840d

Hi Kelly-Anne if you put my name in the search box, you'll see my message. There is a gang operating in the area and they'll certainly carry on unless they get stopped which isn't going to happen anytimr soon as the police haven't got the resource.

Jim Brown ● 1840d

Dear both, please stay safe. Unfortunately and frustratingly the police can do very little with the footage. These people are thugs and potentially dangerous and violent. My converter was stolen in Oct 2019, now thanks to these idiots I now have a claim fault on my insurance for the next 3+ years! I have a cage fitted and agree, get it done. So many videos on YouTube, these people are brazen thugs who don't care who sees them.

Shamini Saxena ● 1840d

That’s a real shame, a pal had their car stolen all captured on their CCTV which they handed over to the police and eventually the police caught the people and did prosecute. No ideal why the police are so slow and making no attempt at catching these people if there is a video of the action the police should take it seriously, find them and prosecute. The Met has a really bad reputation and getting worse by the week.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1840d

The Met Police like other police forces work on intelligence most of which is provided by the us, the public. These are professional not opportunistic criminals. Speaking from experience they can remove a catalytic converter in a couple of minutes and be away in seconds. By the time the police are aware of the problem the thieves will be long gone. Apparently they also do not return to an area for many months if ever (please post if your experience is different). So there is little point in the police staking out an area after it has been hit. I know a couple of Met Police Officers personally they are first rate human beings who work extremely hard to protect us from criminals and it has to be said 'ourselves'.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 1840d

Sam if there is a video of the thieves in action then surely the police should use this to pursue them? Otherwise they move on and on causing misery for many. The forces need to pull together we have so much camera surveillance it can be done. The police attitude seems to be it’s too hard, which is outrageous.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1839d

If the thieves are driving around in a number-plate-less vehicles, don't the ANPR cameras pick it up and send an alarm to the police control office ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1839d

"Sam if there is a video of the thieves in action then surely the police should use this to pursue them? Otherwise they move on and on causing misery for many. The forces need to pull together we have so much camera surveillance it can be done. The police attitude seems to be it’s too hard, which is outrageous."In a previous post on this subject, I advised that a cat. convertor was stolen last year at the car park in Ealing golf club at 11am. Clear CCTV of the incident was recovered and sent to the police who simply gave the unfortunate victim a crime reference number stating they did not have the resource to investigate the crime!

Jim Brown ● 1839d

Sam, judging by the number of reports on social media over the last few years (facebook) (next door).....I would say they stay in the same area for a while, leaving no stone, sorry, car unturned!This is a recurring "easy money" crime that needs more resources and effort to catch these organized gangs.

Nick Jenkins ● 1839d

I agree actually Nick.Since this happened to me I have started to look into it and these thefts seem rife. Only cursory browsing of NextDoor highlights countless incidences in my own neighbourhood, stretching over several months. And investigating further afield on various news reports and social media sites it appears to be a very common problem with very little being done about it. It seems it's the perfect crime.

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1837d

I wonder where the thieves sell the catalytic converters.Surely it is not beyond the wit of the police to find out and come down very hard on the receivers. A sustained operation would at least cut down  the crime.It is of course possible that they are sent out of the country in which case the answer may not be straightforward.

Adrian Irving ● 1837d

I think a lot of them are used for their metals. It seems the older ones have platinum in and other precious metals. I'm becoming a reluctant expert :)

Kelly-Anne Smith ● 1836d