Oldham garage ‘disgusted’ by catalytic converter theft rise

Aaron Leach said he had been getting two or three customers a week coming in following thefts.

Catalytic converters are exhaust control devices that make pollutants less toxic through a chemical reaction.

Precious metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium are commonly used as the catalyst – a substance which increases the rate of the chemical reaction.

However, these metals can mean thieves target the converters, which can cost motorists hundreds or even thousands of pounds to replace.

According to data obtained by Sky News, an average of 75 catalytic converters were stolen every day across the UK in 2022.

In Greater Manchester, there were 1,214 thefts of catalytic converters in 2022 – equivalent to 101.97 per 100,000 households – the highest rate recorded in the North of England.

‘It’s disgusting’

Located on Duke Street, Shaw Tyre & Exhaust has been established for more than 39 years.

Mr Leach said: “We had a period in 2019 or 2020 where it was absolutely mad – we were getting two or three people in a week.

“It quieted down for 18 months, then these last six months it’s definitely picked up again."

The 29-year-old added: “We had a lady in the week leading up to Christmas whose car was parked in the garage every single night.

“She left it outside one night while she stayed at her daughter’s and came out to it gone.

"It’s disgusting.”

Protection from theft

In June 2022, one customer who had her catalytic converter stolen off her Honda Jazz asked the garage to fit a shield to make it harder for her new catalytic converter, which is usually secured by just a few bolts, to be stolen again.

Shaw Tyre & Exhaust fitted this shield in June 2022 (Image: Shaw Tyre & Exhaust)

Mr Leach said: “It just makes it a little bit harder for them. For a lot of people, it’s enough to hear that the aftermarket catalytic converters we fit are of no value to the thieves, but she was still worried they’d come back and do it again – which is understandable.

“So we found this part anybody can buy online which is cut to the car.

“It just makes it that little bit harder for them – if they were to jack the car up and see a big steel shield there they might think ‘oh, we’ll go to another one that’s a bit easier’.”

Greater Manchester Police was contacted for comment.

How to prevent catalytic converter theft

Greater Manchester Police has information on how to avoid catalytic converter theft.

Its advice is as follows:

Prevent it

Although catalytic converter thefts are increasing, there are steps that you can take to protect your vehicle.

To keep your catalytic converter safe, you can ask your car dealer for advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer and tested to Sold Secure Gold.

Alternatively, try to make sure your vehicle is parked in a garage overnight, or if you have a commercial vehicle, park it in a secure compound. If this isn’t possible, park in an area that’s well-lit and overlooked and try to park so that the converter can’t be easily reached by potential thieves. Vehicles that sit high above the road are particularly vulnerable.

You should also register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of.

Report it

• If the crime is happening now call 999  - if you are unsure, we’d rather hear about it and decide if a theft is occurring.
• If it is safe to do so, take photos of suspects or the number plate of their car (do not approach suspects, as they have been known to use violence).
• If the crime has already happened then you can report it to GMP online or at your local police station.