Catalytic Converter Stolen In West Orange, Theft Caught On Video: PD

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The theft of an expensive car part was caught on surveillance video in West Orange last week, authorities say.

According to the West Orange Police Department, officers responded to a home on Ashland Avenue on Tuesday morning after getting a report about a catalytic converter theft.

The car’s owner told officers that someone stole the part from his 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe. The victim said he parked his car in a lot on Ashland Avenue around 5 p.m. on Oct. 6. When he returned to the vehicle on the morning of Oct. 8 and started the car, its exhaust sounded “very loud,” authorities said.

When the car’s owner took a closer look, he realized that someone had cut out the catalytic converter, police said.

The victim told police that video surveillance shows a black sedan pull up next to his Hyundai at 10:54 p.m. on Oct. 6. Light can be seen coming from underneath the Hyundai, but no suspects could be seen in the video, he said.

West Orange isn’t the only Essex County town to see reports of catalytic converter thefts in recent years. Similar thefts have been reported across North Jersey – with the pricey parts often fetching a high resale price for thieves.

• See Related: Wave Of Catalytic Converter Thefts Continues In Essex County
• See Related: Thieves Bring Saws To Bloomfield: More Stolen Catalytic Converters
• See Related: Catalytic Converter Cut Out Of Maplewood Vehicle In Continuing Trend

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