Catalytic Converter Thieves Hitting North Side Cars Hard

They’re b-a-a-a-ck!

Area North detectives tonight are warning North Side residents about a rash of catalytic converter thefts over the past two weeks.

Striking mainly between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., the thieves have sawn converters off of at least eleven vehicles since June 30, the alert said. Cops offered no descriptions of the offenders.

Typically, thieves use a battery-operated saw to cut converters from the bottoms of targeted vehicles in quick, but noisy strikes.

Approximate locations of eleven reported catalytic converter thefts since June 30. | BatchGeo

Theft and resale of the pollution control devices—which contain precious metals—is an attractive career path for some Chicagoans. Replacement of the part will cost victims about $1,800. Thieves typically make about $150 per part.

A catalytic converter | Orange County Register

In 2015, cops caught five Traveling Vice Lord gang members after they bailed out of a crashed minivan that contained 24 stolen catalytic converters near Addison and Lincoln.

Infamously, prosecutors charged each of the men with one count of theft of lost or mislaid property.

Anyone with information about the latest thefts is asked to call detectives at 312-744-8263.

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About CWBChicago 4358 Articles
CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.