Catalytic converter thieves strike again
Monday, 4th August 2014.
Police are appealing for information following the theft of four catalytic converters and one attempted theft in Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds.
In Haverhill, two of the incidents took place between 3pm on Tuesday, July 29, and 7am on Thursday, July 31, in Boundary Road and both involved Mercedes Sprinter vans.
In one case the thieves were successful, however on one of the vans the converter had been fitted with an anti-theft device which prevented it from being removed.
This was followed by an incident in Headland Avenue between 9pm on Wednesday, July 30, and 7am on Thursday, July 31, where another Mercedes Sprinter van was targeted.
The final incident in Haverhill took place between 7.30pm on Thursday, July 31, and 7.30am on Friday, August 1, in Rookwood Way where again the converter from a Mercedes Sprinter van was stolen.
In Bury St Edmunds between 8.45pm and 8.55pm on Wednesday 30 July, the fence of a business premises in Hollow Road was forced and the converter was stolen off a Mercedes Sprinter.
A vehicle believed to have been a grey Volkswagen Passat was seen in the area at the time and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about this.
Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference HH/14/1500, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The success of the anti-theft device is being highlighted by police as a good measure to protect your catalytic converter from being stolen.
Other advice for owners of vehicles with a high ground clearance, which are often targeted for their catalytic converters, is as follows:
* Keep private vehicles in a well-secured garage where possible and if no garage is available, in a well-lit public area;
* Park vehicles in such a way as to make access to the catalytic converter difficult, or parallel with another vehicle if you own one;
* Keep commercial vehicles in a locked building or compound;
* Use alarms, lighting and CCTV to deter thieves.
In Haverhill, two of the incidents took place between 3pm on Tuesday, July 29, and 7am on Thursday, July 31, in Boundary Road and both involved Mercedes Sprinter vans.
In one case the thieves were successful, however on one of the vans the converter had been fitted with an anti-theft device which prevented it from being removed.
This was followed by an incident in Headland Avenue between 9pm on Wednesday, July 30, and 7am on Thursday, July 31, where another Mercedes Sprinter van was targeted.
The final incident in Haverhill took place between 7.30pm on Thursday, July 31, and 7.30am on Friday, August 1, in Rookwood Way where again the converter from a Mercedes Sprinter van was stolen.
In Bury St Edmunds between 8.45pm and 8.55pm on Wednesday 30 July, the fence of a business premises in Hollow Road was forced and the converter was stolen off a Mercedes Sprinter.
A vehicle believed to have been a grey Volkswagen Passat was seen in the area at the time and officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about this.
Anyone with information about these thefts is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference HH/14/1500, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The success of the anti-theft device is being highlighted by police as a good measure to protect your catalytic converter from being stolen.
Other advice for owners of vehicles with a high ground clearance, which are often targeted for their catalytic converters, is as follows:
* Keep private vehicles in a well-secured garage where possible and if no garage is available, in a well-lit public area;
* Park vehicles in such a way as to make access to the catalytic converter difficult, or parallel with another vehicle if you own one;
* Keep commercial vehicles in a locked building or compound;
* Use alarms, lighting and CCTV to deter thieves.
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