Car Insurance -
Car thieves have new target - 19/05/2008
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Car owners should be aware of thieves looking to steal parts of their exhaust pipes according to a leading insurance company.
Yesinsurance.co.uk. have found that an increasing number of steal catalytic converters which are located on the underside of cars and are part of the exhaust system are being removed to be sold to garages or for scrap.
The converters help remove harmful toxins from the vehicle’s emissions and could be sold for as much as £1,000. Four-by-fours are a particular target because most have enough room underneath to get to the exhaust system without having to jack up the vehicle. Thefts usually happen overnight, the insurer explained, so drivers tend to find out what has happened in the morning when they go to start their vehicle.
"Catalytic converters are attractive to criminals because they are expensive, easy to access and contain rare metals such as platinum, which have been rocketing in price recently," said Paul Purdy of the online insurance firm.’’
Mr Purdy continued; “While car radios can be a popular target for criminals, catalytic converters now appear to be offering greater returns due to the high value and the fact they are easily accessed, where possible, the insurer advises drivers to park in private garages. But if they have to keep their cars on the street, it should be in a well-lit area.’’
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