THIEVES are targeting catalytic converters on certain makes of car in Lancashire.

Police said there had been a spate of such thefts,, particularly around Chorley, with the most common vehicles targeted the Honda Jazz and the Toyota Prius.

Often the parts are stolen from cars in public car parks such as supermarkets or hospitals, where they are left for a reasonable amount of time, but CATs can also be taken off driveways.

Precious metals such as rhodium, platinum and palladium are used in catalytic converters.

The price of some of these metals has risen sharply in recent years and as a result has led to an increase in the theft of catalytic converters.

The neighbourhood police team has secured funding for 50 catalytic converter marking kits to be given away to members of the public who have already been victims.

After the CAT is marked it will be registered and stickers displayed in the car to show the catalytic convertor is marked, making it harder to sell on.

Sgt Paul Harrison said: “Offenders pull up alongside a vehicle and jack the target car up and remove the catalytic converter by sawing it off, to any nearby people it looks like they are changing a tyre. Victims don’t know anything is missing until they try to start their car and then they are left with a huge repair bill.”

In the meantime, people are urged to:park close to fences, walls or a kerb with the exhaust being closest to the fence, wall or kerb to make the theft more difficult.

If parking in a public car park, consider parking alongside other cars and facing your bonnet this will make it harder for thieves to get close enough to steal it.