Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise, South Bay Authorities Say

TORRANCE, CA — Following a drastic increase in catalytic converter thefts in recent months, Torrance police arrested 20 suspects for catalytic converter thefts in June, according to the Torrance Police Department.

Officers started operations to combat the thefts on June 7, and made 20 arrests between June 7 and June 28, police said. Authorities found that some of the arrestees were awaiting trial for other open cases of catalytic converter thefts.

Catalytic converter thefts have been rising nationally, the National Insurance Crime Bureau reported. There were 108 catalytic converter thefts per month on average in 2018 and 1,203 average thefts per month in 2020. From 2018 to 2020, California led the nation in catalytic converter thefts the bureau said, and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported a 400% increase in catalytic converter thefts from 2019 to 2020, KTLA reported.

Catalytic converters control exhaust emissions on vehicles, and contain valuable metals, like rhodium, platinum or palladium. These metals have increased sharply in value in recent years, according to the insurance crime bureau, and catalytic converters are often stolen and sold to extract the metals inside.

The thefts in Torrance occurred during late-night hours, mostly in residential areas, Torrance police’s Sgt. Mark Ponegalek told the Daily Breeze. Toyota Priuses and Honda Accords have been the most targeted vehicles, as well as pickup trucks, officials said.

Catalytic converter thefts can happen in seconds, but the department said the community has helped officers by reporting the crimes as they occur.

“This is a great example of our department applying our proactive-policing philosophy in conjunction with our great community support,” police said in a statement.

The Torrance Police Department recovered 87 catalytic converters and arrested one suspect from one search warrant operation on June 30, officials said.

How to prevent catalytic converter thefts

The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends vehicle owners install a catalytic converter anti-theft device, which locks around the catalytic converter. Vehicle owners should also park in a garage, and if vehicles must be parked in a driveway, it's recommended to install motion sensor security lights to deter thieves.

Etching events with Torrance police and other South Bay law enforcement agencies, where the department etches the car’s license plate number onto the catalytic converter, can also help theft victims. This helps law enforcement deter criminals by connecting a stolen catalytic converter to its original owner.

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