Armed response units called to deal with theives stealing catalytic converters in broad daylight - including one in Lutterworth

A man has been arrested after a car’s valuable catalytic converter was stolen in Lutterworth amid a mini crime spree.

Armed response vehicles and road policing units responded on Sunday September 6 after “multiple reports of daylight catalytic converter thefts from home addresses and superstores”.

And as a result a man of 25 was arrested in Leicester as officers tracked down a silver car connected to the catalytic converter thefts.

A Leicestershire Police spokesman said: “On Sunday 6 September officers located a vehicle which had been linked to incidents concerning the theft of catalytic converters in Lutterworth and Whetstone on the same day.

“It was also linked to the attempted theft of a catalytic converter in Hinckley, also on 6 September.”

He added: “The vehicle was found unoccupied.

“But following further enquiries a 25-year-old man was arrested in Leicester on suspicion of theft from a motor vehicle and attempted theft from a motor vehicle.

“He has since been released on bail and enquiries are ongoing.”

Eco-crucial catalytic converters (CATs) are a vital component of a car’s exhaust system – and are worth a lot of money.

They are located under the car, attached to the exhaust pipe.

A catalytic converter cleans up dangerous gases before they leave the exhaust pipe.

Catalytic converter theft has soared all over the UK because they are easy to steal – and are made of precious metals.

A catalytic converter contains palladium, platinum and rhodium.

Palladium is worth up to £1,400 an ounce, platinum about £700 per ounce and rhodium about £4,000.