AMIDST the surge of catalytic converter thefts across central Berkshire one man has spoken of the distress he faced watching thieves steal from his car.

Peter Haywood, who has Parkinsons disease, claims he spotted the moment thieves targeted his car outside his home in Holland Pines, Wokingham.

He said: "I was in my living room at around 10.30pm when I went to go upstairs. 

“Because I have Parkinsons Disease I have to use a stairlift to get to my bedroom, and as I was going up I could see a car parked in front of my Honda Jazz with it’s full-beam headlights on. 

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“My car was parked in the disabled bay, so I thought it was unusual but couldn’t act on it. 

"The next morning I went to check on the car, and sure enough I noticed the catalytic converter had gone.”

The reported theft took place on January 17, and Mr Haywood alerted police the following morning. He said the catalytic converter was stolen from his red Honda Jazz, of which hundreds of the same make of car have been stolen since October 2019.

Catalytic converters are targeted by criminals as they contain a small amount of valuable metal.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Thames Valley Police received a report that a catalytic converter was stolen from a car in Holland Pines overnight between January 17 and 18. 

"No arrests have been made and the investigation has been filed pending further evidence coming to light.”

Since October 2019, more than 450 thefts of catalytic converts has been reported across Bracknell, Wokingham, Reading and it’s surrounding areas.

Thieves have been mainly targetting Toyota Prius and Honda Jazz cars parked in large open car parks.