Police hosting catalytic converter marking events at Halfords Rochdale

Photo: Greater Manchester Police

Catalytic converters

Police in Rochdale are hosting two catalytic converter marking events at Halfords Autocentre in conjunction with Rochdale Borough Council.

The free of charge events are taking place on Tuesday 10 August 2021, (3pm - 6pm) and Tuesday 17 August 2021, (1pm - 4pm) and will give motorists the opportunity to have their converter marked, which will act as a deterrent for thieves and make it harder to sell on.

Marking the catalytic converter, also helps police return it to the owner if it is ever stolen and recovered.

Catalytic converters are fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted, and are often targeted by thieves as they can be removed quickly and contain valuable metals.

The two events are being held at Halfords Autocentre on Liley Street, Rochdale, OL16 2AS, and motorists interested in attending the events should call Halfords on: 01706 527 401 to book a time slot.

Sergeant Hoque said: "We understand the rising trend of converter theft is a concern for motorists and we are extremely grateful to Rochdale Borough Council and Halfords Autocentre for their support with these events, which I know will be greatly appreciated by local residents.

"Registering your catalytic converter and marking it with a forensic marker makes it harder for thieves to dispose of, and also helps police return it to you in the event it is stolen and recovered.

"Other things you can do to keep your converter safe is to try and park it in a garage overnight, or if this isn't possible, park in an area that is well-lit and overlooked, in a way that makes it harder to get to the catalytic converter. Cars parked on a high kerb or on a banking above the road are particularly vulnerable.

"If you see anything suspicious, for example a vehicle being raised using a car jack in a residential area, or a loud drilling or cutting sound coming from underneath a vehicle, please contact police."

Councillor Susan Smith, portfolio holder for communities and cooperation, said: “We are proud to be part of this initiative and we encourage residents to book a slot and get their catalytic converters marked. We appreciate all the hard work carried out by colleagues at GMP and Halfords to make this event possible.”

Due to limited appointments, vehicle owners who are interested in attending an event are required to book an allocated time slot, rather than dropping in on the day. Please call Halfords on 01706 527 401 to book an appointment.

Ralph Buckley, Halfords Autocentre Regional Manager, added: "Having your car damaged in this way is costly and upsetting, so we are very pleased to be able to work with the police to reduce incidences of catalytic convertor theft."

The two events are being held at Halfords Autocentre on Liley Street, Rochdale, OL16 2AS, and motorists interested in attending the events should call Halfords on: 01706 527 401 to book a time slot.