Portland police warn commercial vehicle owners of part theft spree
FILE PHOTO / L.A. County Sheriff's Office
A photo from March 2021 shows some of the 250 stolen catalytic converters seized in a California bust.
Portland police are warning motorists and commercial vehicle owners about a theft spree that may be targeting a valuable automotive part: catalytic converters.
Four converters were stolen from cars and buses in the city between April 29 and May 2, according to the police. “These incidents follow regional and national trends of increasing thefts,” a police statement said.
Thieves often take the converters because they contain rare metals, such as platinum, palladium and rhodium, that are sought by metal recyclers. A single converter can fetch several thousand dollars on the black market — and will set you back at least $1,000 if you have to replace it.
Catalytic converters are pollution control devices that have been required on all U.S. cars and trucks since 1975, and are mounted under the vehicle in its exhaust system. They’re relatively easy to remove, and buses, box trucks and similar commercial vehicles are often targeted because their ground clearance makes theft even easier, experts say.
In Los Angeles County, Calif., converter theft skyrocketed 400% last year, and in March the sheriff’s office there busted a ring of thieves found with 250 converters worth an estimated $750,000 in street value.
The Portland Police Department advises vehicle owners to park in well-lit areas and to make sure security alarms are in working order. There are other steps to consider, such as engraving vehicle identification or license numbers onto the converter. For more information or to report suspicious activity, contact the PPD at 207-874-8575.
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