Van Contract hire customers warned of catalytic converter theft
Friday 21 May 2010 Back to Blog
Van contract hire vehicles with catalytic converters could be the subject of theft attempts.
Incidences where people have tried to steal the items have risen in recent times across Britain, Reuters reports.
This is due to a recent rise in the value of the metals used in catalytic converters.
A previous spate of thefts was recorded in 2008, the last time prices of platinum, palladium and rhodium reached similar highs.
"In the last few weeks we have heard of the thefts starting again," Vanessa Guyll, a technical specialist for AA Public Affairs told the news provider.
Thieves are thought to target vans and large cars in particular as they tend to have bigger, and so more valuable, catalytic converters.
They tend to use small battery-powered saws to cut through the exhaust pipe either side of where the device is fitted.
"The owner realises as soon as he starts the vehicle and hears the terrible noise from the exhaust," Ms Guyll added.
Catalytic converters were first used on motor vehicles in the US in 1975. They help cut pollution from the burning of fuel by converting harmful chemicals into less toxic ones.