A TEENAGER was spared from prison after a spate of auto parts theft.
Patrick Collins Jnr pushed catalytic converters from parked vehicles across Cheshire, including in Warrington.
The 18-year-old from Blackburn attempted to flee on foot after the Cheshire Police Roads and Crime Division tried to stop his Vauxhall Vectra in Congleton with a sting last September.
Officials had previously looked for the car as part of an investigation into the thefts.
Tools used to steal converters were found in the vehicle and Collins was arrested a short distance away.
He was handed a 26-month sentence on Monday, May 17, with a two-year sentence in Crewe Magistrates Court after admitting he was equipped for theft.
The defendant was also ordered to pay £ 350 court costs and a £ 128 victim surcharge while the loss of the car and tools was ordered.
Kraft’s tips for deterring catalyst thieves include:
• Protect your car by asking your dealer if they can offer advice on locks or guards that have been approved by the vehicle manufacturer and tested for Sold Secure Gold
• If you can, park your car unattended in a locked garage. Otherwise, park as close to your property as possible or in a well-lit area that is clearly covered by video surveillance
• Try to park where the converter is not easily accessible, e.g. B. near a wall, a fence or firmly between other cars
• When using a parking lot, use a parking sign to ensure it has been checked for security and approved
• Consider installing a Thatcham approved alarm in your car. An alarm that is activated when your vehicle is lifted or overturned is particularly effective
• Mark your catalyst with a forensic marker and register your converter to make disposal more difficult for thieves
• When your converter is screwed on, the screws can be welded shut – this would not stop a determined thief, it would slow it down.
If you observe suspicious activity and suspect a converter is being targeted, you should call the Cheshire Constabulary on 101 or 999 as soon as it is safe to do so.
The officers also want to hear from you on 101 or through their website if they have any information on catalytic converter theft incidents or the identity of offenders.
