Look Out For Catalytic Converter Thefts In Mamaroneck, Police Say

MAMARONECK, NY — The Village of Mamaroneck Police Department has been receiving reports of catalytic converters stolen from residents' cars, and it has released a list of warning signs to look out for.

Warning signs include:

• Seeing a car double-parked in the street
• Seeing a car jacked-up with a person lying underneath it during overnight or early morning hours
• Hearing metal being cut

Anyone who notices those signs should call 911 or 914-777-7780 immediately, police said.

The Mamaroneck Police Benevolent Association put out a similar alert last month, and Yonkers and Harrison police departments issued warnings to their communities in September.

Read more: Watch Out For Catalytic Converter Thieves: Mamaroneck PBA

In September 2021, a man in Harrison died after he was found unresponsive under a car, and investigators believe a jacked-up car fell and crushed him while he was trying to steal a catalytic converter.

Read more: Man Stealing Catalytic Converter Killed When Car Falls: Police

Catalytic converters are a critical component of a car's exhaust system and can cost up to $2,000 to replace, according to Allstate Insurance.

To protect yourself against a theft, officials recommend parking in a garage or well-lit area, engraving a car's VIN number into its catalytic converter, and/or installing a catalytic converter protection device or car alarm that is set off by vibrations.