Police are appealing for people in Letchworth to be on their guard against catalytic converter and lorry battery thefts.

The theft of catalytic converters, known as CATs, has continued to be an issue in the county, due to the high price of metal in recent years.

CATS were stolen from four Mercedes Sprinters across Letchworth between Friday and Monday, with a further six stolen from vans in the town on November 23.

The thefts are occurring at all times of the day and night, mainly on industrial estates. Vans and four-wheel drive vehicles are being particularly targeted.

Officers from the Crime Reduction Unit have been working with local scrap dealers to educate and improve processes and tackle anyone looking to sell on stolen metal.

They have also been visiting businesses affected to provide advice and guidance about the prevention of further thefts.

Crime prevention officer Ian Dowse said: “The theft of catalytic converters has been a recurring problem over the last few years, particularly from diesel vans as they are easier to access on high clearance vehicles. Thieves target the units for the precious metals they contain.

“Becoming a victim of this crime is very inconvenient and can lead to costly repairs so we are urging people to be vigilant.

“With catalytic converter theft in particular, look out for people hanging around vehicles at unusual times and make sure you make use of your drive or a garage if you have one.”

If you think there is a crime in progress call 999.

For more information and crime prevention advice, go to www.herts.police.uk/advice/crime_prevention/vehicle_security.aspx.