Thieves are thought to be targeting easily identifiable hybrid cars - like the Toyota Prius - in order to cut the catalytic converter out and sell it on. Palladium and Rhodium, two metals found in catalytic converters, have increased exponentially in value with Rhodium trading at double its price at the start of the year and more than eight times its value three years ago. The catalytic converters on hybrid vehicles - which are powered by electric and petrol or diesel - are also used less frequently to remove pollutants. The metals are therefore less likely to corrode, which is another reason why they're more likely to be targeted for theft.

These are our top tips to avoid cat converter theft: kit.honestjohn.co.uk/top-tens/top-10-ways-to-preve.../