PEOPLE are being urged to remain vigilant following the overnight thefts of catalytic converters from four vehicles in Wellington overnight.

between Thursday 8th and Friday 9th July 2021.

They were taken overnight Thursday into Friday (July 8 and 9) from a Toyota Auris parked in Red Lion Court; a Toyota Rav 4 in South Street; a Honda Jazz in Owen Street; and a Honda Jazz in Wellesley Park.

Anyone with any information that could help police with their investigation is asked to call 101 quoting crime reference number 5221154065

Police have issued the following catalytic converter theft prevention advice.

"Did you know a thief can take the catalytic converter from your car in a matter of minutes and leave you to foot the bill?

"Precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium are used in catalytic converters. The price of some of these metals has risen sharply in recent years and as a result has led to an increase in the theft of catalytic convertors.

"Cars that are most often targeted are hybrid vehicles, as these vehicles have two power sources, so the catalytic converter is used less frequently. The metals are less likely to corrode, meaning they are worth more and therefore more attractive to thieves."

Hybrid cars, Vans and SUV’s are particularly at risk, as the ride height makes access to the exhaust system beneath them easier. The Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris, Honda Jazz and the Honda CR-V are often targeted."

To reduce the risk of having your catalytic converter stolen, you should:

  • Park your car in a locked garage where possible, but if this isn’t an option, then park it in a well-lit and well-populated area.
  • Park close to fences, walls or a kerb with the exhaust being closest to the fence, wall or kerb to make the theft more difficult.
  • Avoid parking your vehicle half on the pavement and half on the road, as this may make it easier for thieves to access the catalytic converter.
  • If there is a fleet of vehicles, park the low clearance vehicles to block the high clearance vehicles. This will obstruct access underneath.
  • If parking in a public car park, consider parking alongside other cars and facing you bonnet towards the wall if possible. With the catalytic converter positioned at the front of your vehicle, this will make it harder for thieves to get close enough to steal it.
  • For thefts occurring on driveways, consider the use of a Secured by Design (SBD) approved driveway alarm and sensor. This may assist in alerting you of a potential intruder entering your driveway or garden.
  • 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.
  • You can even purchase a ‘cage clamp’ which is a cage device that locks in around the converter to make it more difficult to remove.

Toyota are offering a ‘Catloc’ for the Prius (3rd generation, 2009-2011 models) and Auris (2nd generation, 2012-2018 models) - contact your Toyota dealership for more information.

REMEMBER: If you see someone acting suspiciously under a vehicle, call 999 or 101 and report it to the Police. Be sure to obtain as much information as possible, including the registrations of any vehicles being targeted or being used by the persons involved.