Current timestamp: 25/05/2022 12:03:46
AgeAlertAnonymousAppealsApplicationsApply Or RegisterArea OutlineArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow UpAutomatic DoorsBack ArrowBusinessCalendarCashArrow DownArrow LeftArrow RightArrow Down[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-chrome' for 'English (United Kingdom)']ClockCloseContactDirectionsDocumentDownloadDrawDrugExpandExternal LinkFacebookFb CommentFb LikeFiletype DefaultFiletype DocFiletype PdfFiletype PptFiletype XlsFinance[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-firefox' for 'English (United Kingdom)']First AidFlickrFraudGive FeedbackGlobeGuide DogHealthHearing ImpairedInduction LoopInfoInstagramIntercom[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-internet-explorer' for 'English (United Kingdom)']LaptopLiftLinkedinLocal ActivityLoudspeakerLow CounterMailMapMap PinMembershipMenuMenu 2[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-microsoft-edge' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Missing PeopleMobility ImpairmentNationalityNorth PointerOne Mile RadiusOverviewPagesPaper PlaneParkingPdfPhonePinterestPlayPushchairRefreshReportRequestRestart[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-rotate-clockwise' for 'English (United Kingdom)']Rss[Missing text '/SvgIcons/Symbols/Titles/icon-safari' for 'English (United Kingdom)']SearchShareSign LanguageSnapchatStart AgainStatsStats And Prevention AdviceStopSubscribeTargetTattosTell Us AboutTickTumblrTwenty Four HoursTwitterTwitter LikeTwitter ReplyTwitter RetweetUploadVisually ImpairedWhatsappWheelchairWheelchair AssistedWheelchair ParkingWheelchair RampWheelchair WcYoutubeZoom InZoom Out

Quickly exit this site by pressing the Escape key Leave this site

Skip to main content

Skip to main navigation

Welcome

This site is a beta, which means it's a work in progress and we'll be adding more to it over the next few weeks. Your feedback helps us make things better, so please let us know what you think.

Show me the site

SOH-Crest-Varied sizes large

Search this website

Main navigation menu

  • Report

    Back to Report

    • Crime
    • Domestic abuse
    • Rape, sexual assault and other sexual offences
    • Breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
    • Road traffic incident
    • Antisocial behaviour
    • Missing person
    • Fraud, bribery or corruption
    • Civil disputes
    • Lost or found property
    • Lost or stolen vehicles
  • Tell us about

    Back to Tell us about

    • How to tell us about possible terrorist activity
    • How to tell us about something you've seen or heard
    • An existing case or report
    • A procession or event you are planning
    • Filming
    • Abnormal vehicle load
    • Possible breach of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures
  • Apply or register

    Back to Apply or register

    • Careers
    • Charity collection licences
    • Compensation for victims of crime
    • Firearm, shotgun or explosives certificate
    • Register as an overseas visitor
    • Attend a misconduct hearing
  • Request

    Back to Request

    • A collision report
    • Intellectual property (IP) licence
    • Request your fingerprints
    • Information: about the police, about yourself or someone else
  • Thanks and complaints

    Back to Thanks and complaints

    • Complaints
    • Thanks
    • Feedback about the website
  • Your area

Breadcrumb

  1. ...
  2. News

Residents encouraged to call police rather than intervene in catalytic converter thefts

Main article content

Navigation

News

16:22 17/09/2021

Surrey Police are urging members of the public not to challenge catalytic converter thieves, but to call police immediately rather than put themselves at risk after several recent assaults.

Last month we had a total of 50 thefts of catalytic converters in Surrey. This is a significant drop on what we were seeing at the start of the 2021, and less than half the number of thefts in August 2020 (121). This is thanks to public vigilance in calling police and reporting suspicious behaviour around vehicles.

However, we urge you not to approach anyone you suspect is stealing a catalytic converter, even if it’s your own car. We understand why you might want to confront them, but catalytic converter thieves are often involved in organised crime and are not afraid to carry weapons or use violence to get away.

In one recent case, a member of the public chased after thieves who were stealing his catalytic converter and was struck in the hand with a metal bar or bat. Another member of the public challenged thieves who were stealing his neighbour’s catalytic converter and was threatened with an iron bar.

If you think you can see a catalytic converter theft in progress, please keep a safe distance and call 999. Give a description of the suspects, their vehicle, and their direction of travel if they leave the scene while you’re reporting.

Catalytic converters are located under the front of a vehicle close to the engine. They’re stolen because they contain valuable metals. Thieves can steal a catalytic converter in less than a minute, invalidating the vehicle’s insurance and often writing it off altogether.

The main signs for spotting catalytic converter theft are:
Can you see a vehicle jacked up, either in a car park or on the street? Is there more than one wheel off the ground?

Can you hear the sound of metal being cut from underneath the vehicle?

Catalytic converter thieves will often try to pass themselves off as conducting legitimate vehicle maintenance. Please don’t worry that you are wasting police time by calling us. Our contact centre can help you assess the call, and officers would rather attend and establish that a person is legitimately working on a vehicle than not go and miss the opportunity to catch a thief.

Seen the signs? Call 999.

Share

Is there a problem with this page?

Footer navigation

We use cookies on this site to give you a better, more personalised experience.

I'm fine with cookies I'd like to manage the cookies

Surrey Police

  • Contact us
  • Find a police station
  • About us
  • Jobs
  • News
  • Campaigns
  • Privacy notice
  • Cookies
  • Terms and conditions
  • Accessibility

Information and services

  • Advice and information
  • Crime prevention
  • Stats and data
  • Accessing information (FOI)
  • Report
  • Tell us about
  • Apply or register
  • Request
  • Thanks and complaints

Partners

  • Police.uk
  • Ask the police
  • Police & Crime Commissioner

Follow us on

© Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.