These two men were caught on CCTV apparently in the act of stealing the catalytic converter from a car.
It happened on Butts Lane, South Milford on Tuesday (16 August).
The suspects tried vehicle door handles before crawling under a car with an angle grinder to try to remove the catalytic converter.
Unsurprisingly, police want to talk to the two men shown on CCTV.
Both are described as young, slim and approximately 6ft tall.
One had short hair with a floppy fringe pushed to the side. The second was wearing a distinctive face mask and had a thick chain around his neck.
They were both wearing dark trainers with reflective strips. If you can help police, contact them on the numbers below.
Advice for motorists
PC Sylvia Matla said: “Catalytic converters are devices fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted. They are often targeted by thieves as they contain valuable metals and can be removed in less than a minute.
“Catalytic converter theft most frequently occurs in car parks, but they can happen anywhere.
“Thieves may then sell these converters via scrapyards, online, or ship them out of the country. Although catalytic converter thefts are increasing, there are steps that you can take to protect your vehicle.
“To keep your catalytic converter safe, you can ask your car dealer for advice on locks or guards that are approved by the vehicle manufacturer.
“Alternatively, try to make sure your vehicle is parked in a garage overnight, or if you have a commercial vehicle, park it in a secure compound. If this isn’t possible, park in an area that’s well-lit and overlooked and try to park so that the converter can’t be easily reached by potential thieves.
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“Vehicles that sit high above the road are particularly vulnerable.
“You can also consider buying a forensic liquid which you can use to mark it, which will make it harder for thieves to dispose of.”
How to help the police
- Call North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for PC Sylvia Matla
- Email PC Matla here
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the website
- Quote reference number NYP-16082022-0147