Police warn Milton Keynes motorists about this increasing crime in the town

Police said offenders are most commonly targeting parked Toyota Prius, Toyota Auris, Honda Jazz, Honda Civic, Honda CRVs and Lexus RX400 vehicles.

Officers said they are investigating the offences, many of which are believed to be linked.

Since the start of the year, police said, there have been 1,210 offences reported to the force up to the end of November, with an increasing number of reports since August.

In many of the cases, according to police, offenders use car jacks to lift the vehicle and are able to remove the catalytic converter in a matter of minutes.

Detective Superintendent Jim Weems said: “We are taking these offences seriously and investigating in our efforts to identify and arrest offenders.

“It appears there are a number of factors contributing to the increase in the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles. Significantly, they contain precious metals, from which criminals are profiting.

“Not only does it cause distress and inconvenience, it is likely to cost victims to replace it and repair any damage to the vehicle.

"You may see what appears to be people carrying out repairs or work to a car but please look closely and report any suspicious activity to us immediately. Within moments, the catalytic converter may be gone. If you see such a crime in progress, please call 999 immediately.”

A police spokesperson said there are a number of steps people can take to try to protect their vehicle’s catalytic converter:

The spokesperson said: "Speak to the vehicle’s manufacturer to establish what locks and guards are available. If a catalytic converter is ‘bolt on,’ speak to a mechanic about having the bolts welded shut.

"When parking in a car park and having to leave a vehicle unattended, try to park with the front of the car against a wall and avoid parking at the end of a row. This makes it harder for offenders to gain access.

"When at home, if you can, park in a locked garage or, if that's not possible, in a busy well-lit area, as close to your property as possible. You can also consider installing a Thatcham-approved alarm to your vehicle, one that activates when the vehicle is lifted or tilted offers effective protection. You can also mark your catalytic converter with a forensic marker."

Anyone with any information about catalytic converter thefts should call the non-emergency number 101 or make a report on our website.