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| Catalytic converters are targeted by thieves because they have high junk value. | Deseret News |
Catalytic converter thieves toured Lakeview overnight, according to two residents who contacted CWBChicago on Tuesday morning. Both readers reported seeing the car part thieves at work in separate locations and at different times—but their descriptions of the offenders are similar.
Around 3:50 a.m., two men in hoodies got out of a black sedan in the 1400b lock of West Waveland and sawed the catalytic converter off of a Jeep, one reader said.
Then, just after 6 a.m., another reader saw two men in hoodies get out of a black sedan and cut “something” off of a vehicle in the 3300 block of North Clifton. The two then fled westbound.
Thieves love stealing catalytic converters because the parts contain expensive metals including platinum and palladium that can demand payments of $100 to $200 at scrap yards.
SUVs are often targeted because their high ground clearance makes it easier to access the undercarriage with a saw.
Victims almost never know that their catalytic converter has been stolen until they start their car. That’s when they’ll be startled by a loud, roaring sound of their freshly-unmuffled engine.
Some suggestions to make it more difficult to steal your catalytic converter include:
• Welding the converter’s bolts in place or having the bolt heads cut off to make removal nearly impossible
• Having your license plate number engraved on the part to make resale more difficult
• Always park your car in a garage, if available
• Install a catalytic converter theft prevention kit that essentially places a cage around the part, making theft impossible
