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Police dog tracks down suspected catalytic converter thief in Ramsgate

A police dog helped track down a suspected thief found hiding on a petrol station roof.

Yankee was drafted into action following the theft of a catalytic converter in Ramsgate.

Police dog Yankee. Picture: Kent Police
Police dog Yankee. Picture: Kent Police

It later led to a stash of suspected stolen catalytic converters being discovered.

The alarm was first raised last night after a pensioner heard noises on his driveway in Coniston Avenue and saw four men gathered around his car.

When he approached the window, one of the men, who was holding a metal pole, warned him to stay inside.

After the men left, the 70-year-old found his catalytic converter had been removed from his car and called police.

Inquiries were immediately launched, included the review of CCTV.

Officers then spotted the suspects’ car during the early hours of this morning and followed it to the A256 Sandwich Road, where it was abandoned at Pegwell Bay near to the entrance of the nature reserve.

A catalytic converter. Stock image
A catalytic converter. Stock image

Four catalytic converters were discovered discarded near to the vehicle along with a car jack.

PC David Rangeley and his dog Yankee then tracked the suspects along a footpath where they located a discarded jacket and shortly afterwards found a man on the roof of a nearby petrol station.

The suspect, aged 18, was detained on suspicion of theft from a vehicle. A search for further suspects in the area was carried out but no one was located.

But at around 11am today, a second man, aged 24 from Folkestone, was arrested in connection with the incident.

Thieves are targetting catalytic converters for the valuable metal they can sell to scrap dealers.

Inquiries continue, which includes speaking to Ramsgate residents after other catalytic converter thefts were reported the on same evening in St James Avenue, Millfield Road and Rydal Avenue.

Detectives are looking into whether all the incidents are connected.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious or has information regarding the thefts should call police on 01843 222289, quoting reference 46/29586/21.

They can also contact Crimestoppers in Kent anonymously on 0800 555111, or by visiting the website.

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet

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