The theft of catalytic converters from petrol and hybrid cars has reached plague proportions and yet the perpetrators seem to be able to operate with impunity. Catalytic converters are expensive and often cars are damaged substantially when they are removed by thieves. This plague is costing drivers and insurance companies dearly and only adds to the pressures placed on families as the cost of living escalates. In addition, thieves are actually damaging the environment by stealing a device that reduces dangerous fumes being released into the air.

We demand action to stop this plague. The thieves are well organised and can be violent and as car owners' irritation and desperation rises there is an increasing risk of people taking the law into their own hands to tackle the problem. Direct the police to develop strategies and assign resources to bring those involved in these thefts to justice including those who carry out the thefts as well as those who are involved in recovering the precious metals from the stolen converters.