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In the past month, city police have had nine cases reported of thieves cutting catalytic converters off vehicles parked in lots including OC Transpo park and ride stations.

“The vehicle of choice appears to be older model Hondas,” police said, warning owners of such vehicles to park strategically in busy areas with plenty of foot traffic and known surveillance cameras. The models targeted are those that are higher off the ground so the converters are more easily accessible.

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Vehicles have also been targeted in workplace parking lots, commercial lots and outside stores in incidents since Feb. 28.

Central district detectives are asking the public to be on the lookout for suspicious people in parking lots who have battery-operated tools or backpacks or are casing vehicles, including looking underneath them.

Anyone with information is asked to call the east criminal investigation unit at 613-236-1222 ext. 3566. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by downloading the Ottawa police app.