BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Catalytic Converters are essential to any cars emissions but are also the target of recent thefts due to the expensive metals they contain. 

What You Need To Know

  • Thieves are targeting catalytic converters in cars

  • Reselling a catalytic converter can bring as much as $700

  • They can be removed from cars iquickly

  • Many thieves steal a few at a time according to Best One Fleet Service

 

Chris Paynter has been in the automotive industry for 20 years serving as manager of Best One Fleet Service. He says the thefts of catalytic converters are a common thing for any vehicle service center. They contain expensive metals can be resold for a decent price.

“The resale value market in these are top of the market," said Paynter "On the streets you can get anywhere from $250 to $700.”

Besides the price removing the converters can be a very quick process. Taking anywhere from five to 15 minutes. 

“It is readily accessible for it to be taken," said Paynter "Not only one but you have two sitting right there and that's $3,000.”

The amount of thefts have caused places like Best One Fleet to upgrade their security with the purchase of more exterior and interior cameras. Paynter says there has been an uptick in the amount of customers who need service on their converters.

"We have replaced quite a few whether they be stolen on they fail," said Paynter "That's why these companies have to spends tens of thousands of dollars to protect their equipment to do their job.”

Overall theft of catalytic converters are up as well according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The weather may also be a factor as well.

“It may be a higher dollar for these parts," said Paynter "I don't know why the seasons tend to bring out the stealing but we see more of them in the Fall.”

The goal for Best One Fleet is to hope upgraded security will make some thieves think twice before stealing them .

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