A PIONEERING, new project which plans to fit cars with a unique security tool to catch thieves is being piloted in the region.

Officers from Northumbria Police’s crime prevention team devised the innovative scheme which will see SmartWater security fitted on a range of vehicles to help the North-East buck the growing national trend of catalytic converter thefts.

A number of garages have already signed up to the scheme.

Linda Nelson, of the force’s designing out crime team, said: “Thankfully, car thefts are decreasing and we see nowhere near the levels we used to historically. But, unfortunately catalytic converter thefts are on the rise nationally, and in our force area, they are up 84 per cent in the last year.

“The good news is that these thefts are completely preventable and there are a number of ways you can make sure your car stays safe – from keeping it locked and secure to fitting it with tracking devices. SmartWater is just another tool in our armour which helps us fight theft.

“We daub cars with the forensic liquid, which can withstand heat of up to 600 degrees, and each has a unique code which allows it to be traced back to the owner. This allows garages or scrapyard dealers to spot a stolen item and give us a call.”From Jan 2020 to April 2021, crime of catalytic converters rose to 84 per cent.