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Thieves target cars at hospital
11:39am Thursday 7th August 2008
Comments (27)
CHEEKY thieves are stealing catalytic converters from cars parked at a Hampshire hospital - right under the noses of police.
They have taken the valuable anti-pollution devices as people visited sick relatives and friends at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.
The hospital car park is opposite the Hampshire police's Romsey Road headquarters.
Police have now launched a surveillance operation in a bid to catch the crooks.
The hospital is the latest place to be targeted by thieves tempted by the three precious metals - platinum, palladium and rhodium - contained in catalytic converters.
Experts say a competent thief can remove one in six minutes and sell it for at least £120.
As reported in the Daily Echo, several motorists who went to this year's New Forest Show had their catalytic converters stolen in what has been described as a crimewave sweeping the country.
It is understood thieves crawl under vehicles and use hacksaws to remove the devices, leaving motorists with huge repair bills.
A Hampshire police spokesman said: "We can confirm that in response to a number of catalytic converter thefts in recent weeks police officers in Winchester have been conducting covert operations in the area. Reports of thefts have included the car park at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester."
Police have alerted scrap metal dealers across the county and warned them to be on the lookout for stolen items.
The spokesman added that drivers should mark their catalytic converters and leave their vehicles in garages or well-lit car parks.
Police believe the devices are shipped to recycling centres in Poland, Canada, China and Latvia, where the metals are extracted.
A spokeswoman for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital confirmed that up to ten catalytic converters had been stolen from vehicles in its smaller car park.
She added: "It has been happening at the weekends so we have now closed the car park at the weekends and stepped up patrols."
Your Say YourThis is Hampshire
Words Fail Me, Hants says...
12:09pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Cheeky Monkey, says...
12:35pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Words Fail Me wrote:Someone nicked it.
'Cheeky' is not the word I would have used to describe low-life scum like those carrying out these thefts. Is the car park CCTV not switched on??
Non-Driver, says...
12:50pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Simon, says...
12:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Anon, Southampton says...
1:03pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:Have you ever been a driver or will you ever need transport yourself? How do you get around, 100% on foot?
I love crimes against motorists. They're my favourite.
Sue, Southampton says...
1:07pm Thu 7 Aug 08
No FairCop, Winchester prison canteen says...
1:08pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Now there's a surprise!! Too busy chasing motorists rather than protecting them!!
southy, redbridge says...
1:16pm Thu 7 Aug 08
King Mush, Woolston says...
1:21pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Many of these people operate on the fringes of criminality and very few questions are asked when some hoody chav junkie rolls up to the yard with loads of obvious knock-off metal.
Our dearly beloved travellers have been dealing in scrap metal for decades and many of them are legit.
However - we all know how many lengths of railway track go missing or how telephone exchanges get targeted for the copper wire. Even OAPs bungalows suffer from having lead flashing ripped off their windows just for a few quid - the cost of replacing it is a major blow. Unless same pikeys call back a day or two later on the 'house repairs' wangle.
Have you ever dealt with scrap metal dealers? I recall theat lovely Richardon gang operating south of the Thames back in the Sixties. Tip of the iceberg
Reality, Hants says...
1:33pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Anon wrote:No he's too busy hugging trees. Or one of the theives.
Non-Driver wrote: I love crimes against motorists. They're my favourite.Have you ever been a driver or will you ever need transport yourself? How do you get around, 100% on foot?
Non-Driver, says...
1:40pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Car-Driver, says...
1:56pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:I love driving past people like you... with no other reason than just for you to breathe in some dirty air and eat some dust.
I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.
James, Southampton says...
2:04pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:And of course cars with the converters missing create much more fumes for you to breathe in.
I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.
Good argument tree hugger.
Non-Driver, says...
3:06pm Thu 7 Aug 08
James wrote:Most of them are rendered undrivable as a result :-)
Non-Driver wrote: I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.And of course cars with the converters missing create much more fumes for you to breathe in. Good argument tree hugger.
What is even more amusing is that it is mostly 4x4s because it is easier to get underneath one. Ha ha ha ha (my ribs) ha ha.
Driver, says...
3:17pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:Ho ho ho! Y'know, it's funny. The other day, my daughter collapsed on the floor writhing in agony, and I had to rush her to the hospital. Oh, the tears of hilarity were rolling down my cheeks as I found the cat' had been thieved from my car! Even at the funeral, I found it hard to contain my mirth! Ho ho ho
James wrote:Most of them are rendered undrivable as a result :-)
Non-Driver wrote: I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.And of course cars with the converters missing create much more fumes for you to breathe in. Good argument tree hugger.
What is even more amusing is that it is mostly 4x4s because it is easier to get underneath one. Ha ha ha ha (my ribs) ha ha.
James, Southampton says...
4:18pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:lets hope your seat gets nicked off your bike. It wont be your ribs that hurt then.
James wrote:Most of them are rendered undrivable as a result :-) What is even more amusing is that it is mostly 4x4s because it is easier to get underneath one. Ha ha ha ha (my ribs) ha ha.Non-Driver wrote: I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.And of course cars with the converters missing create much more fumes for you to breathe in. Good argument tree hugger.
hahaha (my ribs) ha ha.
Dangerous D, Eastleigh says...
5:31pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Finlay, Des Moines, Iowa says...
5:32pm Thu 7 Aug 08
The hospital car park is opposite the Hampshire police's Romsey Road headquarters.
Police have now launched a surveillance operation in a bid to catch the crooks.
Just look at the content of this anserine report. The thieves are gone the cat conv sold and now the Plod announce in the local press that they will have the area under 'surveillance'! Jeeeeezuz!
Save money guys and look out over the place once in while, next you can have the cars signwritten with times and dates of all your operations and hey! Forget about telling the public to keep their eyes open for criminals - A building filled with plod and billy the burglar right outside the door
You noodnigs
Mad Max, the prairies says...
6:52pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Denzil, Hampshire says...
7:17pm Thu 7 Aug 08
James wrote:I might like that, riding without a seat. That will wipe that smile off his face.
Non-Driver wrote:lets hope your seat gets nicked off your bike. It wont be your ribs that hurt then. hahaha (my ribs) ha ha.James wrote:Most of them are rendered undrivable as a result :-) What is even more amusing is that it is mostly 4x4s because it is easier to get underneath one. Ha ha ha ha (my ribs) ha ha.Non-Driver wrote: I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.And of course cars with the converters missing create much more fumes for you to breathe in. Good argument tree hugger.
gravygranules, southampton says...
7:25pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Denzil, Hampshire says...
7:36pm Thu 7 Aug 08
PAUL B, says...
7:45pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Jim, Southampton says...
8:37pm Thu 7 Aug 08
King Mush, Woolston says...
8:42pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Non-Driver wrote:STOP PRESS:
I walk or cycle everywhere, i love crimes against fume creating roboplegic wrong heads.
A local cyclist was knocked down by a passing 4 x4 on a New Forest Road and the incident was witnessed by another motorist who pulled over in order to assist.
The Good Samaratin was met with a torrent of abuse from the injured cyclist lying in the road which was covered in blood.
The motorist then called the emergency services and a police car with accompanying paramadic were on the scene within ten minutes.
The officers and medic were also fought off by the irate cyclist who refused to be taken to any nearby hospital unless an eco friendly means of transport could be found.
Despite an immediate search, no horses or carriages were available and the injured man lapsed in to unconsciousness although managing a few more expletives in the last few minutes.
The inquest and funeral arrangements will be made within the next few days
Sheik Cutoffa Dahandz, Middle East says...
10:34pm Thu 7 Aug 08
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Copycat Crook, reading the Echo says...
11:43am Thu 7 Aug 08