Police departments across the state have reported more people stealing catalytic converters from cars than in previous years.
According to a study by BeenVerified, 669 cases of catalytic converter theft were reported in Arizona as of May of this year.
That’s a 370 percent increase in thefts since 2020, with a total of 142 cases reported. In 2019, there were only 30 cases of catalyst theft in Arizona, according to the study.
In the Valley, Phoenix police said this crime will increase.
According to Sgt. Hector Encinas.
In March Tempe police arrested a man suspected of stealing over 100 catalytic converters. Investigators said he could have stolen up to 20 each week.
Mesa Police released information last week about an undercover investigation into the theft of catalytic converters in the city they called “Operation Heavy Metal”. One case involved the break-in of 141 catalytic converters valued at over $ 40,000 from a parts store.
Mesa police reported that there were two cases of catalytic converters stolen in 2018, one in 2019, 69 in 2020 and a staggering 241 as of September 19, 2021.
This type of theft is increasing across the country, with states reporting an overall doubling in crime, according to the study.
The study estimates there were 25,969 thefts in the U.S. from January through May, an 80% increase from the 14,433 reported stolen in 2020.
In comparison, according to the study, only 3,389 thefts were reported in 2019.
California, Texas, and Washington were predicted to have the most thefts this year, but Colorado, Arizona, and Connecticut were estimated to have the largest year-over-year increases, according to the BeenVerified study.
What is a catalyst? Why would anyone want to take it?
The catalytic converter is one of the most valuable parts of your car and most people don’t know where it is or what it is for.
The converter is not much bigger than a toaster – one person could easily carry several – and is within easy reach under the rear of the car, right in front of the exhaust.
It is also full of valuable metals.
The job of the catalytic converter is to use chemical reactions to filter harmful substances out of your car’s exhaust pipe and to reduce its emissions.
The converter sends hot exhaust gases through a filter made of rare metals such as palladium. Palladium sold for around $ 500 an ounce in 2016, but is valued closer to $ 2,000 today, according to the Kelley Blue Book and MoneyMetals.com.
Rhodium, also common in catalysts, sold for $ 640 an ounce five years ago. Today it sells for over $ 12,000 an ounce.
All someone has to do to get this valuable material out of your car is slide it under the car and saw it out of the exhaust system. With a hand-held chainsaw, the entire process can take less than two minutes.
Newer cars are a higher target for this type of theft as the valuable materials degrade over time.
Your car can drive without a catalytic converter, but it would never pass an emissions test, which means you cannot register it.
Catalyst repairs aren’t cheap, costing anywhere from $ 1,000 to about $ 3,000.
How do I stop this from happening to me?
Wondering if to worry? According to BeenVerified, the vehicles most frequently attacked in 202 were Toyota Prius, Honda Element, Toyota 4Runner, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Accord.
Experts say indoor parking is your best defense if you are concerned about your new car’s catalytic converter being stolen.
If this is not possible, park in well-lit or high-traffic areas and consider installing a security camera.
Another way to prevent this crime from happening is to have your VIN number or license plate engraved on your converter so that if it is stolen, the police can track it down. Protective devices are also available to make it difficult to remove the converter.
If you are the victim of a catalyst theft, report it to the police.
You can reach Breaking News reporter Athena Ankrah at athena.ankrah@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @AthenaAnkrah.
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