City cops warn of catalytic convertors thefts from cars in Glasgow

Officers in the Glasgow area said there has been an increase in the number of catalytic convertors being stolen from cars.

Cars parked in areas including the South Side of Glasgow and East Renfrewshire have been targeted.

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The precious metals used in catalytic converters means they are an attractive target for thieves. The components contain rhodium, which is six times more valuable than gold.

Catalytic converter thefts have surged in lockdown amid a spike in the value of precious metals according to research.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "There has been an increase of reports of thefts in  catalytic convertors from vehicles across the South Side of Glasgow and East Renferwshire over recent weeks."

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The force advised the following to protect your car.

• Park your car in a locked garage where possible, or in a well-lit and well-populated area.
• Avoid parking your vehicle half on the pavement and half on the road.
• If parking in a public car park, consider parking alongside other cars and facing your bonnet towards the wall if possible. 
• If there is a fleet of vehicles, park the low clearance vehicles to block the high clearance vehicles.
• If your catalytic converter is bolted on, you can ask for your local garage to weld the bolts to make it more difficult to remove.
• Etch a serial number on the converter.
• Consider using the permanent Selectamark CAT Marking kit to mark the converter https://www.selectamark.co.uk/security.../cat-marking-kit
• Purchase a ‘cage clamp’ or ‘cat guard’ which is a cage device that locks in around the converter.
• Speak to your dealership about the possibility of adding a tilt sensor that will activate the alarm.
• Ask your manufacturer or dealer if they can give you any other advice.