Nassau Introducing Law To Curb Catalytic Converter Theft

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The Republican majority of the Nassau County Legislature introduced a law today in the aim of cracking down on catalytic converter thefts from cars.

Under the proposed law, all businesses that purchase catalytic converters would be required to obtain information from the seller, including their ID, a copy of their car title, and the make, model and VIN of the car the part came from. Businesses will be required to keep these records for five years of the purchase date, and they must be made available for inspection upon request by the Nassau County Police Department and Consumer Affairs.

“With theft of catalytic converters on the rise in Nassau County and throughout the country, it is important that we provide our law enforcement with as many tools as possible to stop this activity,” Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello said. “This legislation is designed to make it more difficult for thieves to profit from their illegal acts.”

A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle's exhaust system. It converts the engine exhaust to less hazardous gases, and uses valuable metals to do so. Catalytic converters can contain platinum, palladium or rhodium, which make them prime targets for thieves, since they can sell the metals for scrap. Nassau County police said that 348 catalytic converters have been reported stolen so far this year.

Thefts of catalytic converters are on the rise across the country. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of catalytic converter thefts jumped by more than 300 percent from 2019 to 2020. Statistics show that the most common catalytic converter thefts are from Toyotas, Lexuses and Hondas. Toyota Priuses are also common targets, because they have two converters. Affected cars tend to be parked on streets or in parking lots. Thieves have even gone after new cars in car lots.

The cost to replace a catalytic converter can be anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on your vehicle, and experienced thieves can crawl under your car, cut out the catalytic converter and be gone in less than two minutes. The car will still run without a catalytic converter, but it will not be able to pass a yearly inspection.

“Catalytic converter theft has been an epidemic in Nassau County, especially among certain makes and models of cars,” Legislator Bill Gaylor, one of the legislation’s co-sponsors, said. “By reducing the number of places thieves can sell the parts stripped from catalytic converters, we are putting a dent into their system. Further, by providing the police and consumer affairs with the information necessary to track down the sellers in case the parts were stolen, we have given law enforcement the necessary tools to make Nassau County safer.”

The most common signs your catalytic converter has been stolen include loud noises coming from the vehicle, less torque, your check engine light being on and extra components visible under your car.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, there are steps people can take to help deter catalytic converter theft:

• Always park in well-lit areas.
• Make sure your car's alarm is activated when it's parked.
• For businesses with multiple vehicles, park them in well-lit and secured lots.
• Have a mechanic install a catalytic converter anti-theft device, or have them weld the catalytic converter to the body of your vehicle.