Thieves are continuing to target the vehicles of doctors, nurses and other hospital staff, striking NHS car parks in the hunt for catalytic converters.
Earlier this month, the ECHO detailed the anger of an Aintree nurse left stranded at the hands of precious metal thieves.
More incidents have since been reported to Merseyside Police.
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Catalytic converters, commonly fitted to vehicle exhausts to reduce the amount of dangerous gases emitted, contain precious metals including rhodium, platinum and palladium, all of which have risen in value over recent years.
A surge in the price of rhodium last month is believed to have fuelled the latest spate of offences.
Three vehicles at Aintree Hospital were hit on February 2, including that of a nurse whose partner told the ECHO: "My missus was in hysterics yesterday and didn't sleep all night and how she made it into work for her shift today, I don't know.
"She was in total bits."
Several more thefts from vehicles parked at the hospital have been reported since, including three on February 10.
One of the latest victims said: "While we have been coming to work during lockdown, working hard saving lives during Covid, they have been staying at home learning to steal catalytic converters online and planning to target the NHS - picking on NHS staff as they know we are working long hours, so they have easy pickings in these car parks.
"I was left stuck at work, with no way to get home and trying to organise cover as I was on-call for the department.
"Then trying to book a taxi when Liverpool is playing at home just added to my stress and delay getting home."
There have been reports of similar incidents at other NHS sites on Merseyside, and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it is working with police over the issue.
A spokesman for the trust, which oversees Aintree Hospital, the Royal, Broadgreen and the Liverpool University Dental Hospital said: “We take the security on our premises very seriously and we recognise the significant impact felt by victims of crime.
“We are supporting the police investigation into the recent thefts of catalytic converters from cars at hospital sites across the region and we are taking steps to reduce the risk of these incidents recurring.”
The rise in catalytic converter thefts has been seen in other areas over recent weeks, with North Wales Police publishing a warning notice to drivers - particularly those who use hybrid cars. Catalytic converters on hybrid cars can contain more precious metals.
The force advised that drivers park in a way that makes it difficult for thieves to access the undercarriage of a vehicle, and also suggested "parking close to a wall or fence and somewhere well-lit and overlooked, amongst as many cars as possible".
Merseyside Police is investigating the thefts from NHS car parks.
Earlier this month, Community Inspector Sarah Rotherham said: “Theft of any nature is a distressing experience for anyone who is targeted, and these incidents of stolen catalytic converters from cars parked at the hospital is no different.
“We are taking these thefts very seriously and would appeal to people who were visiting both hospitals to please get in touch if you saw any suspicious activity or have dashcam footage of the thefts taking place.”
Anyone with information on these incidents, or vehicle theft in their community can contact Merseyside Police via Twitter (@MerPolCC), Facebook (Merseyside Police Contact Centre) or by calling 101.
You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111, or online here.
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