The bureau tracked 26 states in 2021 that proposed legislation to combat converter thefts, and in 2022, Arizona joined the list. Replacing one can cost more than $1,000, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. (Photo by Troy Hill/Cronkite News)Ĭatalytic converters contain precious metals, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, which are valuable on the black market and make them a target for thieves. Filled with such precious metals as platinum, palladium and rhodium, converters increasingly are being targeted by thieves.
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In addition, police recommend that drivers be intentional about where they park.Ī catalytic converter sits in the undercarriage of a vehicle at Courtesy Chevrolet in Phoenix. Catalytic converters can be “hardened” to deter theft, and a unique number can be acid-etched onto the converter to increase the chance of recovering it if stolen.
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The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that the number of catalytic converter theft claims to insurance companies jumped from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020 – a 325% increase.Īrizonans reported 2,046 thefts in 2021, an increase of 1,340% over 2019 and a spike second only to Colorado, according to an analysis by BeenVerified, which reports on public data.Īnd in May, Phoenix police found 1,200 catalytic converters in a storage unit after investigating a crime ring, the Associated Press reported.ĭeterring and prosecuting catalytic converter theft is difficult because they don’t come with a serial number or other distinguishing characteristics, so there’s no way to prove a stolen converter belongs to someone else.īut there are steps you can take. Thefts of the emissions-control devices from under vehicles are skyrocketing across the country, authorities say. PHOENIX – Drivers may not know what catalytic converters do, but it’s clear that they’re valuable. Converter thefts continue to rise across the U.S. The acid will eat into the metal through the perforations in the sticker, etching the code onto the device. A mechanic at Courtesy Chevrolet in Phoenix applies acid to a Safecat sticker on a catalytic converter on July 20.
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