Seeing as it only takes a minute or two to steal them, I hardly think police patrols have any real hope of catching these thieves - they'll simply post a lookout at the end of the street and wait for the police to pass before resuming their activity.As for retro-fitting anti-theft guards, that's a good idea but many people still aren't aware of the ubiquity of these thefts, or don't imagine it will happen to them, and so won't spend extra money until it's too late (i.e. after they've been done too).As for the manufacturers redesigning vehicles to prevent theft, I agree entirely - cars should not be permitted to be sold unless this is done. But even there you'd have to allow them a period to redesign and besides, that does nothing for the millions of cars with converters which are already out there.In the end, thieves won't steal them unless they can find someone to sell them to, and they're not the sort of thing you can shift on Ebay or a car boot sale etc.Scrap metal dealers - who I believe have to be registered already? - must be the primary buyers of these devices, so the police should be clamping down hard on them, to sort the reputable ones from the cowboys.But when they don't seem bothered eg by numerous "dealers" who are pretty much openly re-selling stolen bikes in huge numbers, I fear they won't be bothered with these thieves, at least until prompted by Parliament.Which is where (ahem) Ruth Cadbury and her fellow MP's come in.
Richard Cathcart ● 2195d