The Rochdale Police Department is holding two events for motorists where part of their car will be tagged to prevent theft.
They are hosting two catalytic converter marking events at Halfords Autocentre in partnership with Rochdale Borough Council.
The free events take place on Tuesday, August 10th, from 3pm to 6pm and Tuesday, August 17th, from 1pm to 4pm.
They give motorists the option of having their converters marked, which deter thieves and make resale more difficult.
Marking the catalytic converter also helps the police return it to the owner if it is ever stolen and found.
Catalytic converters are built into vehicle exhaust systems to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted and are often targeted by thieves because they can be removed quickly and contain valuable metals.
The two events will take place at Halfords Autocentre on Liley Street, Rochdale. Motorists interested in attending the events should call Halfords on 01706 527 401 to book a time slot.
Sergeant Hoque said, “We understand the increasing trend in converter theft is a problem for motorists and we are grateful to Rochdale Borough Council and Halfords Autocentre for their support in these events, which I know will be from are very much appreciated by local residents.
“Registering your catalytic converter and marking it with a forensic marker makes it difficult for thieves to dispose of and helps the police to return it to you in the event of theft and recovery.
“Other things you can do to protect your converter are try to park it in a garage overnight, or if that is not possible, park in a well-lit and viewable area that makes it more difficult to to park it. Getting to the catalytic converter Cars that are parked on a high curb or on an embankment above the street are particularly at risk.
“If you see anything suspicious, for example a vehicle being jacked up in a residential area or a loud drilling or cutting noise comes from the underside of a vehicle, please contact the police.”
Coun Susan Smith, Portfolio Owner for Community and Cooperation, said, “We are proud to be part of this initiative and encourage residents to book a space and have their catalysts tagged. We appreciate all the hard work that our colleagues from GMP and Halfords have done to make this event possible. “
Due to limited appointments, vehicle owners wishing to attend an event must book an assigned time slot instead of dropping by on site. Please call Halfords on 01706 527 401 to make an appointment.
