Honda in bid to foil catalytic converter thieves

Honda owners are being offered free help to drive down the number of catalytic converter thefts.

Police Scotland has launched a partnership scheme with West End Honda garage in Broughty Ferry after a rise in thefts from vehicles across Tayside.

Criminals take the catalytic converters and sell them to scrap yards, where they attract a high price due to the precious metals contained within them.

Drivers of cars thought to be vulnerable to thefts will be able to have their converters marked with special tags while having other work carried out.

Staff at West End Honda in Dundee have undergone training with SelectaDNA, which provides forensic crime-prevention marking systems.

Stickers with unique ID numbers will be used to tag each catalytic converter, which, say SelectaDNA, creates a permanent mark on the converter.

The ID number has a free lifetime registration on an asset register, which is accessible 24 hours a day and identifies stolen property to police and scrap metal dealers.

Garage managing director James Ewart said: “Our staff have received training from SelectaDNA, which was arranged by the police.

“We will offer this service free when someone’s vehicle is an identified risk and at one of our premises having work carried out.

“We believe the reason for these thefts is likely due to the high scrap value of Honda’s catalytic converters.”

PC Steven McKay said: “Staff there will know which vehicles are more of a target and will offer this service to customers while their vehicle is having other work done.”