MPD warns of Theft of Catalytic Converter from Parked Vehicles

From MPD:

“Dear 1D Community,

We have recently seen an uptick in the theft of catalytic converters from cars parked on public streets. These incidents have occurred across the district, and while they are most common overnight, we have had some occur during daytime hours as well. Their theft requires access to the undercarriage of the car, either jacking it up or crawling under vehicles with higher clearance such as trucks and SUVs. They are then generally cut out with a simple cordless angle grinder; that part of the operation is usually very loud and noticeable. The thieves will often use a truck and operate in teams; the entire process can occur in less than a minute.

Catalytic converters are stolen for their value on the resale market, as they contain precious metals. The most common model targeted is the Toyota Prius, but other hybrid cars and vehicles with higher clearance are targeted as well. Hybrid cars’ converters contain more of the precious metal. Replacement can cost thousands of dollars.

We are publishing this information for general awareness and we request that you keep an eye (and an ear) out for suspicious behavior of the kind described above. If you do observe such, it would be of great assistance to capture as much information as possible to share with us – descriptions, license plates, photographs. If you own a vehicle commonly targeted, we recommend that you park in well-lit areas; you can also discuss additional steps with a mechanic to install an anti-theft device.“