A crashed BMW found in Saxby containing four catalytic converters is being linked with a spate of converter thefts in Ryhall early this morning. Police investigating the incidents are asking for any witnesses to contact them.
Police are making enquiries in Ryhall today after two catalytic converters were stolen from cars in the area in the early hours of this morning. Just after 4am, the occupants of a house in Lea View reported hearing drilling nearby and after inspecting their car found that its catalytic converter has been stolen. Shortly afterwards a report was received from the occupants of a house in New Road where, again, a catalytic converter had been stolen. A window was also damaged at the property after the suspects were spotted by the occupants.
Two hours later, police were told that a BMW had left the road at Saxby and hit a stationary Peugeot in the village near Melton. Those in the BMW left the scene on foot. Police found four catalytic converters in it and officers are linking the car to the thefts in Ryhall.
Rutland Police is conducting house to house enquiries to find witnesses and you can also contact Leicestershire Police here: Home | Leicestershire Police (leics.police.uk) or call 101 with any information.
Catalytic converters are frequently targeted by thieves because of the few grams of Palladium that can be found inside them. The high price of Palladium currently means that each stolen converter is worth hundreds of pounds on the black market. With relatively simple tools, experienced thieves can remove a catalytic converter from underneath a car in minutes.