WHY ARE THIEVES STEALING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS? AND HOW CAN YOU PREVENT IT
Police reports show there has been a rash of catalytic converter thefts in Cumberland County of late. 
It’s a crime, police warn, that can be done in under a minute and can cause hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in damage to your vehicle. As metal prices increase, thieves take advantage and take their stolen converters to scrap yards. Depending on the vehicle, it could fetch a $200 payday or more.
WHY CATALYTIC CONVERTS?
Catalytic converters are designed to act as a line of defense against harmful exhaust system emissions by turning pollutants into harmless gasses, according to Cars.com. Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, like platinum, palladium or rhodium, that are valuable to metal dealers.
How do you stop it from happening to you? While not always the case, thieves targeting a catalytic converter will go for vehicles that are higher off the ground due to the ease and efficiency of the crime. But, don’t let that give you a piece of mind. This kind of theft can happen to any vehicle owner. There are a couple of things you can do to help protect yourself from being a victim:
- Have your catalytic converter welded to your vehicle’s frame.
- Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device.
- Install a car alarm.
- Install video surveillance outside your home.
- Engrave your VIN or license plate number into the converter.
- Park in busy, well-lit areas of a parking lot.
