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The converters are easy for thieves to steal by quickly sliding under the vehicles, cutting the catalytic converters off of the vehicles with battery-powered reciprocating saws, and fleeing the area within minutes, police said.
Made of metals such as platinum, rhodium, and palladium, make them an easily sellable item at scrap yards, bringing anywhere from $75 to $100, police said.
Motorists will know their catalytic converter is missing if their vehicle starts with “a gravelly roar.”
Thieves on the hunt for catalytic converters typically look for vehicles that have been parked for a long time in large lots, such as shopping centers, mass transit commuter lots or company parking lots. Vehicles that sit higher off the ground, such as pick-ups and SUVs are especially vulnerable because they don’t require a jack to gain access to the part.
One way to thwart off would-be larcenists is to keep vehicles parked in a well-lit area or in a garage.
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