Police are hoping to prevent the theft of catalytic converters spreading from industrial estates to residential areas.
At a Witham Community Committee meeting, acting sgt Caroline Marsay gave a report of police activity in the town since October.
According to her figures, the number of assaults were down, there were no recorded incidents of criminal damage and the number of thefts of bicycles had also reduced.
However, Mrs Marsay did report an increase in theft and attempted theft from vehicles.
She said: “The main problem we’re having is theft of catalytic converters, mainly from industrial estates.
“We have notified all business units on the estates.
“We don’t want the problem to spread to the housing estates.”
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