THREE people are reported to have attempted to steal from a vehicle in Whiston over the weekend.

At around 12.10am on Saturday, February 18, it was reported that three people had attempted to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle on Longton Lane, in Whiston, before they fled the scene in a car.

Officers were able to locate the car on Dragon Lane and following a search of the vehicle, they found a number of tools, including the handle to a jack that matched a jack left at the scene.

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Catalytic converters, which reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted, are commonly stolen from people's cars as they contain valuable metals and can be removed in less than a minute.

Since the incident, a 16-year-old male from Liverpool, an 18-year-old man from Huyton and an 18-year-old woman from Huyton were all arrested on suspicion of attempted theft from a motor vehicle, vehicle interference and going equipped for theft of a motor vehicle.

All three have been released on conditional bail pending further enquiries.

For more information about catalytic converter thefts and tips on how to prevent them, visit this link.

If you have any information on suspected vehicle crime, contact us @MerPolCC or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.