A car’s catalytic converter contains precious metals that make it worth stealing
Credit: Roger Taylor
Older hybrid cars are sitting on a fortune. Values of platinum, palladium and rhodium used in their catalytic converters that reduce toxic gases and pollutants in the exhaust gases are at an all-time high; rhodium in particular tripled in value since March 2020 and is now worth far more than gold.
These durable precious metals are not seriously corroded or degraded by emissions from the Atkinson-cycle petrol engines typically used to power hybrids in tandem with a lithium-ion drive battery.
Consequently, hybrid “cats” are now worth an average of £400 apiece, which is why 14,500 were hacked off older hybrid cars last year in London alone. Older Honda Jazz and CR-V non-hybrids have also been targeted.
9 flytippers caught on camera named by Hull City Council
The offenders have been named and shamed
The video will auto-play soon8Cancel
Play now
Sign up for our regular
free newsletter for court stories sent straight to your inboxInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Subscribe
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
Nine litter louts have been fined up to four figures for fly-tipping offences on Hull s streets.
The offenders were taken to Hull Magistrates Court where they were prosecuted for their littering after they were caught red-handed on CCTV.
Greater Anglia and c2c delays: Trains affected across South East England after thieves steal cables
Network Rail said cable thefts cost the organisation millions of pounds every year
A CGI of the old Greater Anglia trains that came onto the network in 2019 (Image: Greater Anglia)
Sign up to our newsletter for daily updates and breaking newsInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign up here!
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
AA has seen a 6,760% explosion in catalytic converter thefts in four years as it received almost 4,000 call-outs last year from victim car owners
AA said it attended just 57 drivers who had a catalytic converter stolen from their cars in 2017
Last year, it received 3,910 call-outs from victims of this new crime wave
More than half of incidents occurred in Greater London - but the issue is national
Becky John, 57, a fashion stylist from North London said she s had to make an insurance claim after the cat was stolen from her 14-year-old car
She has also had to fork out for a special contraption to prevent repeat thefts
South East England trains delayed because thieves steal cables for scrap value
British Transport Police say they are working hard to reduce disruption to your journey (Image: British Transport Police)
There are always big stories on WalesOnline - don t miss any with our daily emailInvalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.
Sign me up now
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Your information will be used in accordance with ourPrivacy Notice.
Thank you for subscribingWe have more newslettersShow meSee ourprivacy notice
Trains have been delayed in South East England because of thieves stealing electrical cabling from railway tracks for its scrap value.