Thefts of catalytic converters from cars have “gone through the roof” in Ireland as a small number of travelling gangs cash in on the soaring price of precious metals contained in the devices, gardaí have said. Unofficial Garda figures suggest there has been more than a three-fold surge in the number of the car parts being stolen since last year. It is believed thieves have found a black market to sell them on – for up to €500 a part – leaving victims with repair bills that can run into thousands of euro. Precious metals in catalytic converters – part of the exhaust system which makes pollutants less harmful – can be r ... (full story)