Gardai are advising people to be on the alert for people acting suspiciously around vehicles parked in public places.
Officers in Athlone have received reports of a number of theft of catalytic convertors from cars parked in streets and in car parks in the town in recent days.
While there is little that can be done to prevent the thefts, or recover the equipment, gardai are asking people to come forward if they suspect cars are being interfered with so they can intercept the perpetrators.