In the past week the Wytheville Police Department has taken three separate reports of catalytic converter thefts, one from a local hotel, one from an auto repair shop and one from a church.
Thieves often target catalytic converters because of the amount of precious metals contained in original parts. Depending on the manufacturer, catalysts are typically platinum, palladium and rhodium, all of which can fetch series money on the re-sale market.
Catalytic converters change harmful exhaust gases, including carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide into carbon dioxide and water vapor.
The Wytheville PD shared tips to protect your car from catalytic converter theft, including, parking in well-lighted areas and close to building entrances. Better yet, the department suggested, park inside a garage with the door closed. Other options include having the catalytic converter welded to the car’s frame and engraving your vehicle identification number onto the part in the hopes that it would alert a scrap dealer that the part was stolen.
