Teen from Leighton Buzzard part of gang arrested near Flying Fox for catalyctic converter theft

A teenager from Leighton Buzzard was part of a gang arrested on suspicion of catalyctic converter theft.

Officers investigating the theft of a catalytic converter in Hertfordshire on January 4 stopped a vehicle near The Flying Fox roundabout on the A5 in the early hours of Thursday, January 5. Five men – one in his 40s and the rest in their 30s, from Essex, London, Middlesex and Somerset – and a teenage boy from Leighton Buzzard were all arrested on suspicion of theft and taken into custody.

Three of the men were then further arrested on suspicion of burglary, in connection to another previous incident in Hertfordshire. All six have been released on bail, pending further enquiries.

Bedfordshire Police said: “Thieves often target catalytic converters as they contain valuable metals and can be removed quickly. If you see a car being raised using a car jack in a car park or residential area, or hear a loud drilling or cutting sound coming from underneath the vehicle, there’s a good chance a theft is underway. If you think a crime is in progress, call us on 999. Even if you’re not sure, we still want to know and can decide if a theft is taking place.

"There are also several things you can do to help protect your vehicle, including: park your car in a way that makes it difficult for thieves to access the undercarriage, such as close to a wall, and somewhere that is well-lit and overlooked; register your converter and mark it with a forensic marker, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of; ask your car dealer for advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer and tested to Sold Secure Gold.”

OP Moonshine is a proactive operation which has been running with CTT, ERSOU, HERTS MST and RPU looking to tackle the theft of catalytic converters.