 |
| Video screengrab of a catalytic converter team at work in Bucktown recently. | Provided |
Police in the Town Hall District came very close to catching some of the North Side’s elusive catalytic converter thieves on Thursday morning. But the Chicago Police Department’s policy against pursuing vehicles in virtually all circumstances. Nonetheless, we have a description of their car as well as another vehicle that has been recently used by catalytic converter teams in the area.
Also, a CWBChicago reader from Bucktown recently posted this video of a catalytic converter team in action.
 |
| A parody of CPD’s vehicle pursuit policy recently posted on Second City Cop. |
Close Call
Officers were called to the intersection of West Cullom Avenue and North Winchester Avenue in North Center by a resident who saw the occupants of a black Infiniti sawing the catalytic converter off of a parked car around 5:50 a.m. on Thursday morning, Jan. 24th.
Cops encountered the Infiniti as it turned onto Montrose Avenue minutes later. But the driver of the Infiniti refused to pull over. A 19th District supervisor ordered the officers to terminate the pursuit as the Infinity headed south past School Street on Ashland Avenue.
Earlier this month, a witness provided police with a detailed description of a vehicle that was used by catalytic converter thieves near the intersection of North Hampden Court and West Deming Place in Lincoln Park. It was a 2018 Dodge Charger bearing a California plate that begins with 8CUB. The Charger, which is stolen, had three occupants. In a previous encounter with a different witness, one of the Charger’s occupants implied that they were armed with a handgun, according to a police department source.
What To Do
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.
 |
| A pile of stolen catalytic converters |
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. If not, consider parking with the driver’s side next to the curb.
• Install a catalytic converter theft prevention kit that essentially places a cage around the part, making theft impossible
