2 Arrested, 2 Wanted In Catalytic Converter Theft In Glen Cove: Police

GLEN COVE, NY — Authorities say they have arrested two of the four men who stole catalytic converters from vehicles in the Glen Cove area.

The theft took place in the parking lot of a local business on Cedar Swamp Road.

At about 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, employees of Spectrum Security and Communications received a motion detection alert on their phones and saw that people were under their installation trucks.

Glen Cove police were called to the scene and told to be on the lookout for the suspects in a black Mercedes-Benz.

Authorities said an officer canvassing the area spotted the vehicle, but the suspects drove off and ran a red light before crashing into an oncoming vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Dept. Lt. Christopher Ortiz and Lt. Peter DiMaggio.

All four suspects ditched the car and ran toward an abandoned property that once belonged to a circuit boards manufacturer, authorities said. Two of the four suspects were apprehended. As of Tuesday morning, police are still looking for the other two suspects.

The men who were arrested on Saturday have only been identified as Suffolk County residents.

Saturday's incident is the latest example of what authorities say has become a larger trend of catalytic converter thefts during the pandemic.

"A lot of these crimes are cyclical with the market," Ortiz and DiMaggio told Patch in a joint interview. "Years ago, maybe five to 10 years ago, it was copper wire and pipes. At the time, we had people's air conditioning units raided for copper inside them. But now it's moved to the catalytic converters and the metals in them."

What Are Catalytic Converters And Why Are They Being Stolen?

Found on most gas- and diesel-powered vehicles — between the engine and the muffle — a catalytic converter is a device that turns harmful substances in a car's exhaust into harmless compounds. The small metal chamber resembles a muffler and is designed to reduce harmful emissions.

Motorists may not realize their catalytic converter is missing until they start their vehicle and hear a much-louder-than-normal exhaust sound.

There are several reasons why catalytic converters get stolen. For one, these devices contain precious metals, like platinum and rhodium.

According to CARFAX.com, platinum was recently trading at $944 per ounce, while rhodium was going for nearly $10,000 per troy ounce.

Car thieves also know there is a high demand from auto body shops and motorists looking to save money on replacement parts, CARFAX.com wrote in a blog post on its website. Sometimes, dodgy repair shops will buy stolen parts but charge their clients for a new one at a much higher price.

A Warning From Glen Cove Police

Hoping to keep thieves at bay, Glen Cove police are encouraging residents to park their vehicles in a garage or a brightly lit area. Residential motion-alert surveillance cameras and motion-detection lights can also be used.

"Residents should remain vigilant for any suspicious activity around vehicles," authorities said. "They should also lock and secure their vehicles every night."

Anyone who observes suspicious activity in their neighborhood should call the Glen Cove Police Department at 516-676-1000.