San Rafael Cat Converter Theft Captured On Video

LUCAS VALLEY, CA — The Marin County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating catalytic converter thieves captured on surveillance video last week making quick work taking the valuable device from underside of a Toyota Prius in unincorporated San Rafael.

The Sheriff’s Office tweeted video of the theft, which occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 9 in the unit block of Pikes Peak Drive in Lucas Valley, Sgt. Brenton Schneider said.

The video timestamped at around 3:22 a.m. shows the thieves pulling up to a driveway in a light-colored sedan and executing what appears to be a rehearsed plan to perfection – they made off with the catalytic converter in less than two minutes.

Both thieves appear to be wearing light-colored hooded sweatshirts, one with black sweatpants and the other with black sweatpants with one pant leg that appears to be light-colored.

One suspect quickly emerges from the vehicle and jacks the Prius, while the other pulls tools from the trunk of the vehicle and hands them to their partner and acting as a lookout.

The thieves “absolutely” knew what they were doing, Schneider said.

“They were there for less than two minutes. They were obviously very skilled at it.”

Catalytic converter thefts have exploded since the start of the pandemic in March, 2020, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

The devices that convert hazardous exhaust emitted by an engine into less harmful gasses are made from precious metals such as rhodium, which sells for $14,500 an ounce, palladium ($2,336 per ounce) and platinum ($1,061), according to the NICB.

Catalytic devices typically fetch between $50 to $250 from recyclers but cost consumers thousands of dollars to replace.

The Prius is the catalytic converter thief’s vehicle of choice because the hybrid vehicles corrode less than on other vehicles, leaving the valuable metal coating in better condition. It can cost Prius owners up to $4,100 to replace catalytic converters.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (415) 473-7250 and refer to Case No. SO21-3080.

Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately reported Sgt. Brenton Schneider's first name as Brandon.