At Hardwick Motor Company Ltd in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, we always keep up with the latest motoring trends and security issues to help our customers protect their vehicles. One major change we’ve seen recently is where car part thieves are turning their attention.
Recent data shows catalytic converter thefts have fallen by 98% since 2021, when organised gangs were targeting thousands of vehicles across the UK. Thieves were sawing converters off to steal valuable metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum — which, at the time, were worth more than gold.
This sharp decline is thanks to improved police cooperation, traceable converter marking, and car manufacturers such as Toyota introducing new security measures.
Unfortunately, thieves haven’t stopped — they’ve just changed focus. The latest trend is electric vehicle (EV) charging cable theft, driven by the rising price of copper.
Over 200 thefts have already been reported across the UK this year, and experts believe the true number is much higher. Damaged or stolen charging cables can be costly and inconvenient for EV drivers and fleet operators alike.
Charging networks such as InstaVolt and Allego UK are now installing tougher protection, including CableGuard systems, 24-hour CCTV, and GPS tracking to deter criminals.
Here at Hardwick Motor Company Ltd, we’ve helped customers across Sutton in Ashfield and Nottinghamshire with theft-related repairs — from exhaust system replacements to catalytic converter protection.
