Converter theft spate on the rise

A NEW form of car crime that can result in thousands of euro worth of damage has risen threefold, new figures show.

And the thieves who steal catalytic converters from underneath parked cars are becoming increasingly brazen despite several recent arrests, gardaí have said.

One woman recently reported having hers stolen while in Ikea’s busy car park in North Dublin.

Ikea Dublin marketing manager Martyn Allan said the firm was aware of the incident and that it takes ‘customer safety extremely seriously and are constantly reviewing our procedures to improve safety and security across the entire store site’.

‘We work closely with the Gardaí and will always assist them with their investigations,’ he added.

‘Car parks and roads or streets are seeing a higher proportion of offences than in the past,’ a Garda spokeswoman said. And gardaí warned owners of Toyota Priuses and older cars, that they are especially vulnerable.

‘These locations are being targeted when cars are parked in greater volumes. Residential locations are targeted mainly overnight.’

A review of location types in Ireland for 2019 given to us by gardaí highlights that:

■ More than 55% of catalytic converter thefts occur in car parks and park-and-ride locations;

■ 20% on roads or streets;

■ 10% occur in driveways.

Since the beginning of 2019, catalytic converter theft has increased threefold. ‘There are approximately 50 reported offences of converter theft per month across the country,’ gardaí said. This is because of a major increase in palladium prices, a metal commonly found in them.