Overview
- Auto Express FOI data show an average 98% drop in catalytic converter thefts since 2021, with 6,909 cases at the peak in 2021 falling to just 150 across 30 forces in the latest count.
- South Yorkshire recorded one of the steepest falls, from 850 converter thefts in 2021 to five last year.
- Industry reporting indicates EV charging cable cutting has jumped about 400% in the past year as thieves seek copper inside the cables.
- Chargepoint operators say the copper typically fetches only about £15–£20, yet cable repairs can cost thousands of pounds.
- InstaVolt has hired security and fitted GPS trackers to cables as CEO Delvin Lane warns the trend threatens driver confidence and investment in charging infrastructure.