Posted on 01/03/2021 7:49:18 AM PST by real saxophonist
By Tori Mason
December 30, 2020
DENVER (CBS4)– Parking on the street comes with more risk than someone swiping off a mirror or breaking into your car. Cities nationwide are seeing a spike in catalytic converter thefts.
Catalytic converters help control exhaust emission in vehicles. You won’t know it’s gone, until you start your car.
“I started my car and there was a roaring noise,” said Alyssa Wurzberg. “It could’ve woken up the whole neighborhood. I knew it was the catalytic converter.”
Wurzberg posted on the app NextDoor to warn neighbors to stay vigilant. Several others in her Wash Park neighborhood posted about similar experiences, too.
“You’d think that being parked on the street, there’s not a ton of room to work. But they’re coming in the middle of the night. Who knows,” said Wurzberg.
After realizing her car had been vandalized, Wurzberg took her vehicle to Elder Auto in Denver. The mechanics weren’t shocked by her story.
“They’ve always been stealing them, but over the last year, it’s gone way up along with break ins and ignition damage,” said Cody Leach, shop manager at Elder Auto.
Leach says stealing catalytic convertors doesn’t take much work or time.
“It only takes maybe a minute to cut this thing off. They just come in with a saw, cut both sides of the cat out, pull it down, and they’re gone,” said Leach. “They know what they’re going for.”
Thieves aren’t looking to sell the actual car part, but they know its earning potential. Precious metals, like platinum, in catalytic converters can be worth over $100 at scrapyards.
“I’d rather give you a $150 if you won’t steal a $900 piece from my car,” said Wurzberg.
That’s how much she paid to replace the catalytic converter that was stolen. Leach says it could cost other victims thousands of dollars if the thieves did more damage while sawing off the catalytic converter.
Wurzberg says she’s lucky to have regained employment right before her car was vandalized. Now she’s warning her neighbors to be vigilant.
“What if this happened to someone and they’re struggling to put food on the table? Now they can’t drive their car,” said Wurzberg.
Taller vehicles, like pick-up trucks, are easier targets since thieves can get under them without jacking up the vehicle. Catalytic converters in hybrid cars are often seen as a bigger payday for thieves. Next year, Colorado will adapt California’s tighter emissions standards. That’s going to result in more expensive catalytic converters that are more valuable.
With many people working from home, and driving less, it’s possible a catalytic converter can be stolen days before a driver realizes it. Theft of any car part should be reported to the Denver Police Department.
There’s not much you can do to prevent a catalytic converter from being stolen, especially if you park on the street. Leach suggests parking in well-lit areas, close to building entrances. He says there also car alarms that go off when it detects vibration.
After having her catalytic converter stolen, Wurzberg says she will keep a closer eye out for own car and her neighbors’ vehicles.
If you watch the video at the link, the victim has a Honda Element. That's what I have.
I just stumbled upon this article while searching 'catalytic convertor theft', and it's weird that she and I have the same vehicle.
This has been going on for years. Slows down a bit here in Minnesota this time of year.
The thieves need a little lead in their diet.
I’ve seen it done on video, within 30 seconds. It doesn’t take long at all to jack up a vehicle and grab the converter and drop the vehicle and leave.
I’ve even seen professionals take the front axle in about that time.
I’m sorry that happened to you.
Do you share it on an even/odd day basis?
It goes on everywhere .
To stop it, buyers of the converters should be required to validate they aren’t stolen.
A thief shouldn’t have a market for these.
Neutral wire on utility poles too.
Cordless Sawzall with carbide blade and gone.
They been doing this for years now - the company I worked for lost several converters on their work trucks - a very expensive repair not only for the converter but all the associated piping cut off with power hacksaws
I know what you meant. I just chuckled when I read it.
[[[Next year, Colorado will adapt California’s tighter emissions standards. ]]]
Kalifornication.
Can we say that you are now out of your Element?
Around here you have to give a picture ID and be photographed to sell cats.
There is $700 scrap value in the 4 cats on a 95-01 Ford Explorer V8 last time I sold some.
I’ll give them the ones off my Z06, if they’ll cut them clean and get my a tune for the ECM.
The scrap dealers who buy these obviously stolen converters seem to get off scot-free. In Chicago, crooked scrap dealers will gladly buy a load of obviously stolen manhole covers, along with crudely sawed-off converters. They’re never, ever called to account.
Nice one!
I would guess models with greater ground clearance would be more at risk. If it is sizable enough, it will work it into each particular model’s insurance rates.
I know someone in Phoenix this happened to in the last couple weeks. It is quite common.
Unfortunately, we probably need some law affecting how recyclers do business in this atea.
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