Catalytic Converter Thefts Leave Residents With Big Bill

There's been a recent string of burglaries in Evanston. The target: SUVs or minivans. In all cases, the offenders are making off with a vehicle emission control device known as a catalytic converter.

“It’s a rash at this point,” says Evanston Police Cmdr. Jason Parrott, explaining that the police department has seen strings of catalytic converter burglaries on and off for the past two years. Vehicles that sit high off the ground, like SUVs or minivans, are an easy target because the catalytic converter is easier to access.

Thieves steal the car part because it contains precious metals such as platinum, which they can sell to scrappers for anywhere between $75 and $200, according to Parrott. The cost to replace the part, however, is much larger.

John Lopiccolo, manager at Evanston-based Wil-Ridge Auto Service, 2620 Crawford Ave., says someone whose catalytic converter is stolen will face a repair bill that could reach well into the thousands.

"Realistically, it depends on the vehicle," Lopiccolo said. "The repair cost can go anywhere from $500 to as high as $1,800.”

Lopiccolo said that thieves typically use saws to steal the car part, and hypothesized that a recent increase in catalytic converter thefts might have to do with the recession.

"These guys are stealing them and scrapping them," Lopiccolo said. "It used to be airbags. Now, they're stealing convertors.

"People have no jobs - and we saw a rash of this when the recession hit," Lopiccolo added. "There were dealers who were pummeled with guys coming in with saws and stealing them off brand new cars. I know one dealership in Highland Park had 40 stolen off their lot."

Besides parking in a garage or fenced-in lot, there's not much that vehicle owners can do to prevent the crime, unfortunately.

“You can always take your car to a shop and ask them to secure it with some more bolts,” says Cmdr. Parrott. It’s also helpful for police investigating the crime if vehicle-owners etch their license plate or VIN number into the catalytic converter, he says—although that doesn’t necessarily prevent it from being stolen.

“These scrappers have to know they’re buying stolen catalytic converters,” he said.

While there are no scrap metal dealers in Evanston, Parrott said an Evanston Police detective was investigating the rash of thefts locally, in addition to a recent increase in stolen copper downspouts from local churches. The copper is very valuable, he said, and is also sold to scrap metal dealers.

Parrott said residents should always call the police if they hear or see anything suspicious. Thieves often use electric saws to cut through the pipes attaching the catalytic converter to the car, and while the whole process only takes about three minutes, the electric saw does make noise.

“If you hear something, always call the police and we can come check it out,” he said.

 Asked how a car-owner can tell if his or her catalytic converter has been stolen, Parrott said it would be obvious once you start the engine, because the thieves have to cut through the pipe connecting the engine to the muffler to steal the catalytic converter—meaning the car engine will be extremely loud.  

“You’ll know. There’s no doubt you’ll know,” he said. “It’s going to sound like a tank.”