An alarming rise in breakdowns caused by catalytic converter thefts has led the AA to launch an initiative to combat the crime.

Working alongside the police and vehicle manufactures, the motoring association hopes to combat the crime wave with a prevention initiative at Sainsbury’s in Dartford and Morrison’s in Sidcup.

The Metropolitan Police will mark and register catalytic converters free of charge on Friday April 23 and Sunday April 25.

The number of breakdowns attended by the AA due to catalytic converter thefts has been increasing in recent years.

Cases rose by 893%, from fewer than 60 in 2017 to nearly 600 in 2018.

Numbers increased by a further 483% to more than 3,000 in 2019 and although cases fell during the first lockdown, they soon rallied, reaching nearly 4,000 in 2020.

The resulting damage can cost thousands of pounds to repair, and lead times for replacement parts can be up to two months.

It is usually possible to claim for the damage on insurance, but in some cases the vehicle may be a write-off.

There are some measures drivers can take to protect their vehicles, such as contacting the manufacturer as they may be able to retrofit a catlock - a protective cage that makes it harder for thieves to get the catalytic converter off.

The parts can also be marked with a serial number for identification.

Drivers can also put a sticker on the windscreen to show the car has been marked.

While this doesn’t always prevent theft, it does help the police ascertain if a part is scrap or has been stolen.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Modern cat burglars stealing and selling cats for cash are part of a criminal chain.

“Catalytic converters were introduced to reduce carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas.

Hybrid cars are often targeted as they use the catalytic converter less, so the precious metals are often in a cleaner state.

"They are then sold illegally; the precious metal is stacked into containers and shipped across the world to be refined, sometimes ending up back in your new state-of-the art car.

"Thankfully the chain stops there as the new models have less precious metals and are designed to prevent theft.

“The AA is determined to help stop this crime explosion and is working with police and manufacturers to help get more cars water marked so that cat cops can target rogue dealers and organised gangs and prove that the cats were stolen.

“The motor industry is helping by offering replacement cats and cages at cost price and helping the national roll-out of smartwater marking of cats.”

To reduce the risk of theft of your car's catalytic converter you should garage your car whenever possible or park in well-lit busy areas.

You should be wary of people working under cars in public areas and consider marking the metal shell of the converter with a unique mark, so that if it is removed by thieves it will be easier to trace back to your vehicle.

Local AA patrols will be supporting a crime prevention initiative on Friday April 23 in Sainsbury’s Dartford and Sunday April 25 in Morrison’s Sidcup

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