Metal detectors… PC Richie Paul and Sgt Dave Metcalfe from the Thames Valley Police precious metal theft team, with a catalytic converter and a Catloc® security device

Mercedes-Benz van dealer Hughes of Aylesbury has joined forces with Thames Valley Police in a crime-busting initiative designed to thwart metal thieves.

Organised gangs nationwide are targeting catalytic converters fitted to many brands of van and 4×4, because of the high values of the platinum, rhodium, palladium and other precious metals they employ to clean exhaust emissions. Both types of vehicle are vulnerable to this crime because of their relatively high ground clearance.

On several occasions police have caught suspects red-handed with batches of catalytic converters, but have been unable to bring cases to court because they had no way of proving they were stolen.

Mercedes-Benz has led the way, working closely with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) to tackle this industry-wide issue. Since last September Mercedes-Benz has ensured that all exhaust systems on new Sprinter vans are security-etched – with windscreen stickers warning thieves that the ‘cat’ has been marked, this is proving a significant deterrent. It also means that should the component be stolen and subsequently recovered, police have a much better chance of bringing a successful prosecution.

Now Hughes of Aylesbury has gone a step further by inviting customers who bought their vans before the manufacturer began etching catalytic converters at the port of entry, to bring their vehicles back into its workshops and get the job done free of charge.

In a joint initiative with Thames Valley Police, Hughes’ Service Manager Darren Nottingham has written to some 2,000 customers warning:

“In minutes thieves can simply cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust pipe of a parked van – they then sell it, achieving anything from £50 to £200 for each one.

“The costs to you, however, are likely to be far greater. As well as those associated with the loss of man hours and having your vehicle off the road, catalytic converters can cost close to £2,000 to replace.”

In addition to etching each catalytic converter with the vehicle’s registration number, Hughes of Aylesbury is also spraying the unit with UV-tagged forensic paint.

Physical security for your cat

Like other Mercedes-Benz dealers, for extra protection Hughes can also supply and fit Catloc® devices and ProCatt alarms. Anti-tamper bolts are used to fit the Catloc®, which provides a protective shield for the catalytic converter, while the Thatcham-approved ProCatt system is designed to activate if the exhaust is cut, the bonnet is opened, the exhaust, engine or battery are tampered with, or the catalytic converter is unbolted.

Detective Inspector Ian Wood heads Thames Valley Police’s Op Smog, which combats metal theft; he is also the regional co-ordinator for this category of crime, for the Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex forces.

DI Wood says:

“Catalytic converter theft is becoming increasingly organised and is a problem that affects many different types of vehicle. We are keen, therefore, to work with manufacturers and their dealers to combat this crime by making it more difficult for thieves to steal these items in the first place, and making it easier to bring successful prosecutions when we catch them.

“So, of course, we fully support Hughes of Aylesbury’s retrospective security marking initiative, which we would like to see other dealers replicate. Not only will it make it less likely that Hughes’ customers become the victims of crime, but it will also make our jobs easier when it comes to recovering stolen items and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”

If you’re a Hughes customer, then getting your cat etched and marked with UV-tagged forensic paint for free seems a no-brainer — but in the long run I suspect that more physical security will be the only solution, as the potential rewards of this fairly simple crime will remain tempting.