Stolen number plates are being used by thieves to obtain petrol; they are filling up at service stations and are then driving off without paying. The CCTV has an image of the cars number plate, but this is not the one that belongs to that particular car!
Another trend is the theft of catalytic converters, sometimes when the car is parked overnight in the owners drive. These do contain some precious metals and has a scrap price of around £50, but the replacement cost for the owner can be anything between £300 and £600!
Sergeant Trish Reeve-Fowkes said, "All we can do is warn the public to be on their guard. One trick is to superglue your number plate bolts in place. This gives some degree of security."
Inspector Scott the Bexhill Neighbourhood Policing Team commander, said: "We are getting reports of catalytic converters being cut from vehicles and being sold for their scrap value. They contain precious meals and are currently fetching about £50."
A motor trade spokesman, said, "Catalytic converters are currently hot property!"
"Scrap metal prices in general have rocketed and these things contain precious metals, like titanium."
"But the cost of replacing a catalytic converter for a car today can be anything from £300 to £600."
"All scrap values are going up. Old alternators are fetching big money because of the copper wire in them. Aluminium prices have gone through the roof. We loaned a 4x4 as a courtesy car. The customer phoned in to say that a warning light had come on to say it was permanently in two-wheel drive."
"When we got it back someone had unbolted the aluminium propeller shaft and stolen that!"
"They cost £1,500 to replace."
Source [Rye and Battle Observer]
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http://www.personallyyours.co.uk/
