The theft of valuable metals from the treasure chest under every car has led to a spate of thefts. Washington legislators and statehouses are now fighting back.
Since the pandemic, thefts of catalytic convertors, an antipollution part of cars containing platinum, palladium, and rhodium, have increased. This is due to an increase in the price of these metals. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau data, thieves stole 12 times more catalytic converters (which are exposed under most cars) in 2021 than they did in 2019.
According to NICB’s converter theft tracker, more than 30 states have passed legislation to combat catalytic convertor theft. Twenty states have enacted the bills.
The thefts were addressed by a bill introduced in January by the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act would require that new vehicles stamp VIN numbers onto catalytic converters. It also codifies federal penalties for theft and requires record-keeping by those who buy and sell converters.
Rep. Jim Baird (Republican from Indiana), who introduced the bill, said to NBC News via email that these steps would discourage black market sales and give law enforcers more tools to deal with the thiefs.
Shortly after it was introduced, the bill, which had a bipartisan group of co-sponsors and was sent to two committees. Baird stated that he is hopeful that the bill will reach the House floor. He also said that he is taking steps to “move in the right direction.”
Baird stated that Americans have plenty to worry about. “Spending their hard-earned money to replace a stolen vehicle part shouldn’t be one.”
In some states, driving without a converter can be illegal. Replacing one can also prove costly. David Glawe, CEO of the NICB, estimated that a replacement catalytic convert would cost around $3,000, an increase from the $1,000 price in recent years.
Glawe, who runs an organization that fights insurance fraud and criminality, said, “Crime is a business. And business is really good here.” There’s a lot to be made. There’s little to deter them.”
Baird estimates that the raw materials used in converters can fetch up to $240 from scrap dealers. During the pandemic, these metals saw their value increase up to fourfold.
The rewards are greater than the risks for a crime that can be executed in less than five minutes and can be done with a $100 saw purchased at any Home Depot.
Glawe stated that catalytic converter thefts can be considered property crimes and may result in a minor slap on your wrist. Criminals who steal converters in Denver will be charged with misdemeanors if they are less than $2,000 and felony if they are more.
A spokesperson for the Denver Police Department said that 12 people were arrested so far in this year.
Isabella Carlson’s catalytic convertor was taken in broad daylight from the lot of the Wisconsin school where her husband goes to. Her husband saw that there was another car in the same lot with power tools, and he asked her to return the car.
Carlson stated that the police had just said, “Yeah this is happening a lot,”
Carlson, a Waukesha resident, was forced to quit her job as a cashier at a grocery shop after the theft. She said, “I couldn’t get around.” “My husband couldn’t get to school on some days.”
The NICB recommends that car owners park in garages whenever possible and install a cage around their car’s converter like the one Carlson installed on her Hyundai Tucson.
Some of these thefts are tragic. In Houston, an off-duty deputy sheriff was killed in a shootout with thieves trying to steal his truck’s catalytic converter. Authorities said that this happened in April.
Nick Leppert, who moved from California to Chicago last month, was only 72 hours away when the Toyota Prius’ catalytic converter was taken from him.
Leppert (whose pronouns were they and them) didn’t realize the theft until they got in the car and turned the ignition on. Leppert heard the loud growling sound and realized that this was the third theft of the car’s part in 10 months.
Leppert stated, “I was filled in despair, like, never again.” “This is an absurd amount of times it can happen to one person.”
Leppert is the driver of one of the most wanted cars for its converters. Carfax data shows Priuses are the sixth-most-stolen-from autos. The Ford F-series Ford trucks are the No. 1.
Leppert moved to Chicago with his partner to be with them. He said that they plan to have a one-car family.
