Our emissions are tested as part of the annual MOT test - if you don't pass that, you don't get the certificate you need for road tax; no tax = big fine or even car clamped and impounded and even bigger fee to get it back. There may even be points added to you driving license.
There is a big problem in Wales at the moment (if not the UK) with theft of catalytic converters from the exhausts of cars. They are after the precious metals in them and older cars apparently have more than new so even they are not immune.
The thieves target car parks, driveways or wll even just jack a car up on the roadside. Most people passing by would just think somene had broken down or had a flat tyre and wouldn't question it. The first the driver knows about it is when he starts the engine.
I can't believe how brazen the low life who do this are.
I saw on Twitter the other day, a guy came back to his live aboard “narrowboat” only to find out that some yahoos had attempted to steal it. They fouled the engine prop with the mooring lines....engine stopped & they bailed.
This morning, a guy in Birmingham tweeted out of the recent theft of his rare, one of a kind electric guitar. It’s so rare, makes it hard to just resell on the market.