Catalytic converter thefts are avoidable
Catalytic converters are a common target for theft, but officials say there are several ways to deter thieves from removing them.
Marc Iarrapino Jr., owner of Iarrapino’s Muffler & Brake Shop in Butler, the catalytic converter extracts carbon emissions from a vehicle’s exhaust.
“There’s precious metals inside (the converter) on that catalyst,” he said. “There’s three of them in there that they’re after.”
Trooper Bertha Cazy, public information officer for Troop D, said catalytic converters are made using precious metals platinum, rhodium and palladium. The demand for platinum and rhodium has grown significantly, making them valuable and susceptible to theft.
“There are ebbs and flows in catalytic converter theft patterns that usually reflect the scrap market values and the seasonal ease of theft,” Cazy said. “For example, winter conditions make it more difficult for thieves to get under vehicles.”
“Rhodium is the most expensive one; that fetches the most on the market, for sure,” Iarrapino confirmed.
Terry Seilhamer, chief of Jackson Township police, said his officers have to patrol many of the car dealerships in the area to ensure thieves don’t cut catalytic converters from new vehicles.
“They cut (the converters) off, it takes them less than a minute. When they turn it into scrapyards, they can get anywhere from a few hundred dollars to $1,150,” he said.
Iarrapino estimated it can cost anywhere from $250 to $6,000 to replace a catalytic converter. He said drivers would know when theirs has been stolen.
“(Your car) would sound like a Mack truck ... it’s going to be extremely loud,” he said.
Since the start of 2023, nine catalytic converter thefts in Butler County have been investigated by state police. Cazy said it’s possible even more have been entered into their system as “general theft.”
“The demand for palladium has declined with the proliferation of electric vehicles, platinum and rhodium remain scarce and in high demand,” she explained.
Seilhamer said some dealerships in his coverage area have been hit in the past six months, so his patrolmen keep an eye on school bus lots and other businesses.
“Other (thefts) have been a vehicle here or there, usually parked at a business and there’s no one around,” he said.
Cazy said it is possible to locate stolen catalytic converters, and state police have recovered a few in the past several years. The challenge is locating the suspects before the parts are sold.
“The stolen parts are often quickly sold to scrap companies, sometimes through a middleman who buys large quantities of stolen catalytic converters and sells them in a state with less regulations on secondary metal sales,” she said.
Certain vehicles are more likely to have their catalytic converters stolen, according to Cazy and Seilhamer. Any vehicle with a higher stance, such as pickup trucks or vans, are easy to crawl under. New vehicles with low mileage and hybrids also are at higher risk.
“Newer vehicles are at higher risk of theft because the catalyst elements have not been degraded as much as ones found in a vehicle with high mileage,“ Cazy said.
“The Toyota Prius is probably the favorite,” Seilhamer said of susceptible vehicles. “Then pickup trucks and SUVs.”
He suggested parking your vehicle in a well-lit area or in a garage when possible. Some manufacturers also stamp the vehicle identification number of a vehicle on the catalytic converter, which helps police.
To deter thieves, Iarrapino and Seilhamer both also suggested having a metal cage placed around the converter.
Home security cameras increase an officer’s chances of finding the stolen catalytic converters, Cazy said. In addition, she said vehicle owners can mark their vehicles’ catalytic converters with paint for easy identification.
“Vehicle owners play the most important role in stopping the trade of stolen catalytic converters,” she said. “Parking your vehicle in a garage when available or in a location under video surveillance will impede thieves from accessing your vehicle components.”
