Catalytic Converter Stolen From Car In Manalapan Neighborhood

MANALAPAN, NJ — An 82-year-old township resident reported that sometime between Nov. 4 and Nov. 24 someone removed a catalytic converter from his car, police said.

The part is valued at approximately $1,000, police said. It was taken from the vehicle while it was parked at Heritage Village, on Woodward Road in Manalapan.

Police are investigating.

This is another in a series of such auto part thefts in the township.

Going back to late October, police reported:

• A catalytic converter was taken from a resident's car parked in his own driveway on Bunker Hill Drive. On Oct. 21, the resident reported to police that someone removed the catalytic convertor from the car during the previous night.
• On Oct. 27, a 41-year-old Manalapan resident reported that someone removed a catalytic converter, valued at $1,500, from a vehicle parked at a Stratford Drive residence.
• On Oct. 28, a 45-year-old Neptune resident came to Manalapan Township Police Headquarters to say someone removed a catalytic converter, valued at approximately $1,200, from a vehicle parked in a parking lot on Wilson Avenue.
• On Nov. 7, catalytic converters valued at about $6,600 were taken from vehicles that were parked at a Woodward Road business. A Colts Neck resident told police that the converters were stolen sometime between 7 p.m. on Nov. 7 to 7 a.m. on Nov. 8.
• Another incident involving a catalytic converter theft was reported on Nov. 5. A Manalapan resident reported that three unknown males, traveling in a dark-colored sedan, wearing grey sweatshirts, face masks and white gloves, removed the catalytic converter from a vehicle that was parked on Winged Foot Drive.

According to a report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the increase in catalytic converter thefts nationally has been dramatic. In 2018, there were 1,298 catalytic converter thefts for which a claim was filed. In 2019, it was 3,389 thefts with a claim.

"In 2020, catalytic converter theft claims jumped massively to 14,433, a 325 percent increase in a single year," the bureau said.

According to the bureau website, a catalytic converter is a device that looks like a small muffler along the exhaust system. It is designed to convert the environmentally hazardous exhaust emitted by the engine and convert them into less harmful gasses. To do this, manufacturers use platinum, palladium, or rhodium.

"In recent years, however, the values of these precious metals have skyrocketed. As of December 2020, rhodium was valued at $14,500 per ounce, palladium at $2,336 per ounce, and platinum going for $1,061 per ounce. Typically, recyclers will pay $50 to $250 per catalytic converter," the bureau said.

All incidents are under police investigation.