Catalytic convertor thieves on the loose in Laois Offaly

Laois Offaly Gardaí are investigating two separate incidents where thieves targeted cars for valuable metals.

Catalytic converters have been stolen from cars parked in Banagher and Birr. Both incidents happened overnight.

In Banagher the thieves struck on Friday, November 11. In Birr the object was stolen at 5.30am on Friday, November 18 on High St, Birr. 

Gardai say the thieves were driving a silver vehicle, possibly a Volkswagen Golf, which had a loud exhaust. The damage done will be expensive to repair.

Gardaí are appealing to the public for any information that might be helpful.

“If anyone saw anything suspicious or if they have CCTV footage please give us a ring in the Birr Station,” said a spokesperson, adding that the silver Golf drove over Banagher bridge after the crime, in the direction of Galway.

Laois road in urgent need of repair

Catalytic Converters, which form part of vehicle exhaust systems and help to reduce emissions, are stolen because they contain precious metals that have shot up in value in recent years, giving them a high scrap metal value.

Woman with Laois address and 'appalling record' sentenced after Tesco thefts

The converters have a honeycomb-like interior which is coated with precious metals such as palladium, rhodium and platinum.

Figures released by the Gardaí show a remarkable increase in catalytic converter theft across the country, rising in just a few years from 79 incidents per year to 1,300.