Car owners warned about spike in catalytic converter thefts in Calderdale

At the end of February there were a number of crimes reported relating to the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles in Calderdale.

According to the neighbourhood policing teams it is not unique to one ward but has happened in Brighouse, Skircoat, Siddal and Mythomroyd.

MORE CRIME: Halifax taxi driver suspected of dealing drugs from his car arrested by policeA spokesperson for Calderdale police said: "Offences are also being committed in other districts within West Yorkshire and neighbouring forces.

"Cars that are often targeted are Honda Jazz, Mercedes Sprinters, Toyota Prius and higher chassis vehicles."

How to protect your car from catalytic converter thefts

Cars which are often targeted are those with higher chassis, such as a 4x4 or an SUV, however, other cars can still be 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 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

If there is a fleet of vehicles, park the low clearance vehicles to block the high clearance vehicles. This will obstruct access underneath

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.

Alternatively, you can also etch a serial number on the converter

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

Speak to your dealership about the possibility of adding a tilt sensor that will activate the alarm should any thief try to jack the vehicle up to steal the converter

If you see someone acting suspiciously under a vehicle, report it to the Police. Obtain as much information as possible, including any vehicle registrations