Police issue warning to drivers as thieves target cars on driveways

Police are warning drivers amid reports of brazen criminals seemingly targeting a specific model of car on driveways in broad daylight.

Five cars in Merseyside have been targeted in a string of catalytic converters thefts in the past month alone, police say. Most of the vehicles targeted were Honda Jazz cars, but any hybrid car could be a target, police say.

Merseyside Constabulary said recent thefts have been overnight, and from private driveways but usually thieves work in broad daylight and appear as if they are doing repair work on a car or wear high visibility jackets to “hide in plain sight”.

They’ve issued the following steps to reduce the risk to vehicles:

• “Cat locks” can be purchased to secure the catalytic converter on your vehicle. This is especially recommended to vehicle owners who have had their catalytic converters stolen previously, to reduce the risk of becoming a repeat victim of this type of crime.

• If you have CCTV or a doorbell camera, consider reversing your car onto your driveway, so that the back of your car is covered by the CCTV/camera.

• If you have gates, consider locking them with a sturdy chain to make life more difficult for thieves.

• If you see people acting suspiciously around vehicles at any time you can report them on 101 or 999.

Officers have reminded motorists to remain vigilant, Liverpool Echo reports.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: ” If you see anyone acting in this manner under cars in car parks, CCTV, photographs, video or dashcam footage of the people involved and details of the vehicles they have used will be vital in helping us to arrest offenders.

“Call us on 999 if you believe you are witnessing a crime in process, or 101 if you have information or footage of an incident at a later date. These thieves are brazen and often carry out their crimes in busy areas on the basis that no one will report what they are seeing.

“Please help us to catch these offenders by reporting people acting suspiciously under cars in car parks.”