You walk out to your car, start 'er up and immediately hear a loud roar from beneath you vehicle. You're the victim of theft. Someone has stolen your catalytic converter, the piece of equipment attached to the exhaust system that converts harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions.
The crime is increasing because the price of precious metals, such as platinum, palladium, rhodium, or gold, used as the catalyst, have risen sharply. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete the theft.
Huntsville OPP reported today that they have started an investigation into the theft of a catalytic converter in that area.
Sometime time during the night on Friday, April 30, someone cut the catalytic converter off a car parked at a business located on Centre St. Huntsville. The thief made off with the equipment valued at approximately $1,000.
They hope someone with information from a dash camera, or home security video footage involving this crime will come forward.
Thieves sell the converters to metal recyclers for between $20-$200, but then the metal is extracted and resold at big prices. causing the crime to rise in frequency with the sharply rising metal prices.
You will pay well over $1,000 or more for a replacement converter to be installed, plus any other damage caused during the theft to fuel lines or wiring.
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