Please be aware that theft of catalytic converters is on the rise.

Thieves in the night are making it off with cars' catalytic converters, a critical emissions-control device that contains precious metals more valuable than gold. Catalytic converters now make up a much larger proportion of a gasoline-powered vehicle's cost than they did even just a year ago. The metals prices, in turn, are fueling a black market in stolen catalytic converters, which can be sawed off from the belly of a car in minutes, and fetch several hundred dollars at a scrapyard, which then sells it to recyclers who extract the metals.

 

There are a few steps you can take to prevent someone from stealing your catalytic converter, including obvious security measures like parking in a well-lit area, preferably with surveillance cameras. A more dramatic effort would be somehow etching your license plate number onto the catalytic converter.

 

We ask that our citizens be mindful of this activity and report any suspicious activity you may see. This theft is on the rise on commercial and residential properties. Thefts are now finding themselves comfortable enough to not only steal from businesses, but steal from parked vehicles in residential areas.