Police departments around the Kansas City metro area are reporting an increasing number of catalytic converter thefts — a trend partly to blame on the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising cost of precious metals.The costly part of a vehicle’s emissions system is an easy target among thieves since more cars, trucks, and SUVs are not getting driven as much due to stay-at-home orders and business restrictions. Thieves target the converters for the resale value of the costly metal inside like platinum, rhodium, and palladium.Through mid-November, Kansas City, Missouri, police recorded 638 stolen or damaged converters. Raytown police have recorded 57 reported stolen in 2020, so far, versus 33 stolen in 2019. Overland Park police have logged 118 converter theft reports compared to 35 in 2019, though stats could be slightly off due to multiple converter thefts in one location, according to a department spokesman. Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit police also noted higher numbers in 2020 versus 2019.Thieves often target larger vehicles like trucks or SUVs with higher ground clearance to easily slip underneath and saw off a converter. Hybrid vehicles are also top targets, too.”You’ve got a lot of people out of work right now. The pandemic is not a helpful situation, because of that, obviously, you’re going to have more theft,” said Sandy Levine, owner of KC Iron and Metal.Levine said his recycling business adheres to strict regulations within Kansas City, Missouri city limits, like requiring a seller to possess a title that matches a catalytic converter’s vehicle model. The ordinances got tougher with recent changes to city code, Levine said.”The problem is, though, that when we did these ordinances years ago, even the one the last two years ago, we were told that we were going to get other communities in the area to kind of follow our path. They have not,” Levine said.Levine said city officials in areas surrounding Kansas City need to work together to tighten restrictions on how people can sell catalytic converters.”This is a problem, and if we don’t work together, it’s going to continue to be a problem,” he said.Catalytic converters can get sold for anywhere between $200-$500 per part, depending on the size and model.However, repairs can run between $500-$2,500, according to Sci-Tech Automotive store manager Derek Johns.”Cordless are the weapon of choice,” Johns said. “It’s very quick to get in and out from under a vehicle.”Johns said his shop has repaired three catalytic converters in the past month and repaired the exhaust system for another customer who almost had a converter sawed off.”It’s like a little case of money, in there,” he said, pointing to a converter.Johns suggested parking in well-lit areas, a garage, or purchasing aftermarket cage to secure the catalytic converter.”See if you can buy a safeguard,” he said. “But honestly, hope and pray that you’re not the victim.”
Police departments around the Kansas City metro area are reporting an increasing number of catalytic converter thefts — a trend partly to blame on the economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising cost of precious metals.
The costly part of a vehicle’s emissions system is an easy target among thieves since more cars, trucks, and SUVs are not getting driven as much due to stay-at-home orders and business restrictions. Thieves target the converters for the resale value of the costly metal inside like platinum, rhodium, and palladium.
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Through mid-November, Kansas City, Missouri, police recorded 638 stolen or damaged converters. Raytown police have recorded 57 reported stolen in 2020, so far, versus 33 stolen in 2019. Overland Park police have logged 118 converter theft reports compared to 35 in 2019, though stats could be slightly off due to multiple converter thefts in one location, according to a department spokesman. Blue Springs and Lee’s Summit police also noted higher numbers in 2020 versus 2019.
Thieves often target larger vehicles like trucks or SUVs with higher ground clearance to easily slip underneath and saw off a converter. Hybrid vehicles are also top targets, too.
“You’ve got a lot of people out of work right now. The pandemic is not a helpful situation, because of that, obviously, you’re going to have more theft,” said Sandy Levine, owner of KC Iron and Metal.
Levine said his recycling business adheres to strict regulations within Kansas City, Missouri city limits, like requiring a seller to possess a title that matches a catalytic converter’s vehicle model. The ordinances got tougher with recent changes to city code, Levine said.
“The problem is, though, that when we did these ordinances years ago, even the one the last two years ago, we were told that we were going to get other communities in the area to kind of follow our path. They have not,” Levine said.
Levine said city officials in areas surrounding Kansas City need to work together to tighten restrictions on how people can sell catalytic converters.
“This is a problem, and if we don’t work together, it’s going to continue to be a problem,” he said.
Catalytic converters can get sold for anywhere between $200-$500 per part, depending on the size and model.
However, repairs can run between $500-$2,500, according to Sci-Tech Automotive store manager Derek Johns.
“Cordless [saws] are the weapon of choice,” Johns said. “It’s very quick to get in and out from under a vehicle.”
Johns said his shop has repaired three catalytic converters in the past month and repaired the exhaust system for another customer who almost had a converter sawed off.
“It’s like a little case of money, in there,” he said, pointing to a converter.
Johns suggested parking in well-lit areas, a garage, or purchasing aftermarket cage to secure the catalytic converter.
“See if you can buy a safeguard,” he said. “But honestly, hope and pray that you’re not the victim.”