A leading metals expert working with police forces across the UK has told Express.co.uk that electrical cables and EV batteries will soon be at risk. This is due to the fact that the global demand for parts inside cars has increased in recent months and the interest of criminals has been piqued.
Robin Edwards Analyst at ONIS Consulting, working with the British Transport Police and the National Police Chiefs Council, has warned that some parts could be worth “a lot of money”.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, he even warned that a new black market for electric car batteries could become the next big area for civil servants.
He warned that the price of new batteries could be too high for many consumers, which could force many to buy stolen goods in order to repair their vehicles.
He said, “To be honest, there will probably be three.” [areas] to.
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“But in the short term, I think it will be the EV cables and extra auto parts that will be taken down and sold because they are worth a lot of money.
“Some of it is also shipped overseas, the headlights and other parts are also common overseas.”
His warnings come after a surge in catalyst crime last year as prices of precious metals found in the devices, such as rhodium and palladium, rose.
Auto insurer Admiral said the number of catalytic converter thefts rose 44 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year.