Newark man confronted armed catalytic converter thieves on Granby Avenue

A man with martial arts skills has told how he confronted a gang of thieves intent on stealing the catalytic convertor from a neighbour’s vehicle.

The attempted theft happened at night on Granby Avenue, Newark.

It was 11pm and the man said he heard a sawing/grinding noise outside that piqued his curiosity.

“I stepped outside to see three men in action, one of whom stood around 6ft threatened me by pointing either a large axe or hammer at me,” the man said.

“He told me in no uncertain terms to get back inside, which I did, he then stood a few feet away from my front door warning me not to interfere.

“All were wearing dark clothing or balaclavas, which totally obscured their faces in the dark.

“I’m going to assume the hammer/axe had a dual purpose of helping to remove the converter as well as a deadly weapon to use as a threat.

“Before climbing into the getaway car Mr axe/hammer-man and I myself both stood glaring at each other for ten or more seconds.

“They then sped off at very high speed with no lights.

“I managed to catch the first three letters/numbers of their numberplate ­— CB7.

“While searching for them I called the police myself via my car’s bluetooth system and confirmed details; car make, model and registration, with a warning they were armed with possibly a large axe.

“Teenage neighbours who had been stood in their garden nearby had already called the police who were prompt and I saw the patrol car searching Hawtonville as I was driving about.

“The police had concerns that sooner or later these theives would seriously injure, or worse, a member of the public.

“They are organised, efficient and willing to use dangerous force with a weapon to get away safely.

“Whilst I could not see their faces they did speak ­— they are white and would estimate they are aged in their twenties.”

In Nottinghamshire there were nine thefts of catalytic convertors in 2018.

That figure hit 163 in the first ten months of 2019.

The convertors ­— essential to a car’s emission control ­— contain the elements palladium and rhodium. Although the precious metals found in catalytic converters are small in quantity, the parts can be sold on for hefty sums to scrap-metal dealers.

Anyone with information about thefts should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101.