Watch for Catalytic Converter Thieves! –

Your vehicle likely has a small treasure trove of precious metals hidden underneath it – and thieves armed with power saws and grinders are out to steal it.

Catalytic converters are part of the exhaust system, meant to reduce pollutants. They contain metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium, whose value has risen sharply in recent years.

Thieves can slip under your vehicle, using a jack if necessary, and cut out the converter in less than two minutes. They can sell it to metal recyclers for up to several hundred dollars. The recyclers then extract the metal and resell it for a huge profit; as of mid-October of this year, rhodium was valued at US$14,000 an ounce!

When confronted, thieves sometimes attack the victim with bear or pepper spray. A 41-year-old woman was pepper-sprayed in early October when she confronted two men who were cutting out the catalytic converter from her vehicle, parked near Renfrew Street and East 1 st Avenue.

“We are reminding the public to call us if they witness this type of crime, and if possible, not to approach the suspect,” says Constable Tania Visintin of the Vancouver Police Department.

“We ask witnesses to get to a safe place and stay on the phone with our call takers so police will have the most accurate information to arrest the suspect.”

The thefts are a problem across North America and around the world. Especially at risk are SUVs and trucks, because they sit higher off the ground, making for easier access.

Some converters are simply bolted on, requiring only a wrench for fast removal.

Thefts in our area prompted the Hastings Sunrise CPC to post a Community Alert that urges you to:

• Secure your vehicle in a garage
• Park in a well-lit area
• Park in an area with good visibility / higher traffic
• Use a good quality security camera in combination with good lighting
• Consider installing a car alarm
• A reputable mechanic can engrave your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the catalytic converter • Pay attention to sounds of power tools in the middle of the night. Have a safe look and call 911 if it’s suspicious

If you discover that your catalytic converter has been stolen, call VPD non-emergency or report it online.