Thanks to Folsom Police for this report
You come out in the morning and get in your car to go to work. Suddenly your pick-up sounds like a jet boat. Thieves have stolen your catalytic converter!
Over the past seven days, the Folsom Police Department has taken numerous reports of catalytic converter thefts from residents.
A Catalytic Converter is the device mounted underneath your vehicle that reduces pollution-causing emissions. It is made out of platinum and other precious metals. A
thief with a portable power saw can remove the converter in less than a minute, often in under 20 seconds. With the rising price of precious metals, for a thief this piece of metal could be worth more than $100 at a scrap recycling center.
$100 may seem like a lot, but a Catalytic Converter could cost a victim anywhere from $300 – $2000 to replace, depending on the make/model of the vehicle.
Thieves sneak around looking for vehicles that tend to sit higher off the ground, such as trucks and SUVs, so they can easily slide underneath. However, that does not eliminate regular passenger cars from being potential victims. Toyota trucks and SUVs are often sought due to the location of their converter under the truck – it sits off by itself, making it very easily accessible for quick removal. Although the converter is more difficult to get to on other makes, such as Chevrolet and Ford, this does not eliminate them from being victimized either.
Thieves search for their target vehicles parked in parking lots, driveways or curbside. Converter thefts typically occur in the early hours of the morning, when it is still dark outside.
Folsom Police reminds all citizens to be vigilant against these thieves.
