Metal thieves in Caerphilly County Borough are targeting exhaust systems on Mercedes-Benz vans because their high-value.
Precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium can be found in the vehicle’s catalytic converter.
In one incident on Bedwas House Industrial Estate, in Bedwas, five Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans had their exhaust systems stripped.
Gwent Police has said there have been six reported incidents of theft between September 16 and October 2 with three in the Caerphilly County Borough area in Bedwas, Pontllanfraith and Crumlin.
Officers are asking owners of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans to remain alert.
PC Stuart Lewis, of Caerphilly Local Policing Unit, said: “We are appealing for information and asking owners of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans to secure their vehicles and remain alert.
“Steps that can be taken to prevent this type of crime include parking vehicles in well-lit, open areas and installing CCTV camera systems.”
If anyone has any information on any of the above incidents, or saw anything suspicious, please call Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Mercedes-Benz recommends on its website that owners of the Sprinter vans should have a £125 security plate installed.
On its website the company says: “There has been a significant increase in the theft of catalytic converters, stolen for the resale value of the precious metals from which they are made.
“The metal case of the catalytic converter contains a ceramic honeycombed structure coated in precious metals – platinum, palladium and rhodium. These metals act as catalysts for the reactions that ‘clean’ the particles emitted from the exhaust system. Thieves simply cut the catalytic converter from the exhaust pipe of a parked vehicle and sell them on to scrap metal dealers.
“The Catloc Security Device protects your vehicle’s catalytic converter by attaching a specially-created metal plate. This is secured on to the underside of your vehicle using tamper-proof fixings.”