Driver has car parts stolen twice at park and ride

A man who has had parts of his car stolen twice at the same park and ride has called for increased security at the site.

Richard Malloy, from Wheatley, uses Thornhill Park and Ride to get into Oxford for work but has had two catalytic converters stolen in five years.

"With the congestion charge and people not able to drive into the city you should be able to feel you can leave your car there and come back to it without it being damaged," he told the BBC.

Thames Valley Police said it was investigating the theft. Oxfordshire County Council said vehicles were parked at the owners' risk.

Malloy reported the latest theft on 2 February.

"I just returned from work in the city, got into my car, started it up and it sounded terrible," he said.

"I knew pretty much straight away what was going on.

"A lady came running over and tapped on my window and she said 'excuse me, I think you've had your catalytic converter stolen - there's another car similar to yours over there that just had the same thing happen to them'."

He added: "The first time it happened to me my car was a lot younger, so the insurance covered it, but this time it's an old car that I was trying to keep going until I retired.

"So the insurance have effectively written it off and said that they won't pay for it so I've got to pay for it out of my own pocket and it'll run into thousands."

Catalytic converters convert up to 98% of the harmful fumes produced by a car engine into less harmful gases.

They are made using valuable metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Jack Cousens from the AA said: "Their value has increased in recent years which means it's very tempting for thieves to steal it, extract the metals and sell them on."

He said while they were not expensive, the thieves were "hacking away because they want to get in and out as quickly as possible - it's what else they damage when they cut it out".

"They will cut through wires, sensors and other things and when you mount that all up together as one repair bill that's when it gets very expensive... and depending on the car and the amount of damages it could well sit as a write-off."

Malloy said the last time he was victim of theft at the site a white van was captured on camera pulling up next to his car, "but the CCTV is so antiquated in the parking lot that they can't read the registration".

He called for better quality cameras and for parking attendants to be present at the site.

"There used to be five or six parking attendants there - they were strict but they were very fair, but they were also very helpful," he said.

"They got rid of these parking attendants obviously as a cost-cutting exercise and they need to return them... it's unsurprising they don't realise that there are more thefts going on."

A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said its officers were carrying out a "thorough investigation".

The council said: "We are not aware of any increase in thefts of catalytic converters.

"We do have CCTV in the car park, but it is an unattended system.

"Vehicles are parked at the owners' risk and we cannot accept liability for any damage or thefts in the car parks."

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