Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

It seemed to have its start during the pandemic but has been on the rise recently in Mesquite and other surrounding areas. It is the increasingly frequent instances of theft of catalytic converters off of vehicles.
“We have had several catalytic thefts over the past few months,” reported Mesquite Police Department Sergeant Wyatt Oliver.

The catalytic converter is a component part of the exhaust system in a vehicle. It is so named because it contains a catalyst for converting pollutant gases from the engine into less harmful fumes.

Vehicles can run fine without the device. But it is illegal in most states operate a vehicle without a catalytic converter if it was originally equipped with one. There is also a federal law that prohibits the removal of any catalytic converter from a vehicle under the 1990 Clean Air Act.

In December of 2020, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department issued warnings to the public of spikes in catalytic converter thefts in the region. A second bulletin was issued again in May of 2021.

According to the National Crime Bureau, thefts of catalytic converters have shot up to and over 2500 thefts per month. In 2019 at about the same time of the year, the stats showed just below 600 thefts per month.

“The increase is due in part to the pandemic and people trying to make a quick buck,” stated the National Crime Bureau report.

The main reason for the increase in crime is that the metals found inside of catalytic converters have seen a 47% spike in the value in recent years. Catalytic converters contain precious metals like rhodium, palladium, and platinum. All of which have seen a tremendous increase in their worth.

It is not illegal to sell catalytic converters if they are obtained legally. Recyclers typically pay anywhere from about $50 up to around $300 per catalytic converter. The replacement of a catalytic converter can cost up to $1,000 in parts and labor.

Local Metro Sergeant Keegan Doty reported that the Moapa Valley community had seen a few catalytic converter thefts take place place several months ago. But none of these thefts have been reported more recently in the communities of Moapa Valley.

Both the Mesquite Police Department and local Metro have issued advice and recommendations on how to possibly avoid being a victim of catalytic converter theft.

“To help reduce these thefts Mesquite PD advises everyone to park in your garage or in a well-lit area with security camera coverage if possible,” said Sergeant Oliver. “Vehicles like trucks and SUVs are bigger targets because it’s easier to crawl under to access the catalytic converter. If you see suspicious people or vehicles “casing” the area, please call Dispatch with a good description of the suspects.”

Sergeant Doty had similar counsel. “The best advice I can give is to get surveillance on your residence, call in suspicious people to 911, and make it harder for catalytic converters to be stolen by thieves,” he said. “That could mean parking behind closed, locked gates, and/or in your garage.”

To help fight the thefts of catalytic converters, several police agencies are now offering programs to stamp an identification number on the part where it can be tracked and reported as stolen when the thief tries to sell it to recycling centers or auto pick-a-part businesses.