Protect Your Car From Catalytic Converter Thieves In The Heights

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Catalytic converter thefts are up nationwide and in Ohio, according to travel organization AAA. Cleveland Heights police have tips to protect your vehicles from criminals.

Catalytic converters control vehicle emissions, converting pollutants into less toxic gasses, AAA said. Thieves target these devices because they usually contain valuable metals, like platinum, palladium or rhodium.

In 2018, there was an average of 108 catalytic converter thefts per month, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. The crime became more common in 2019 and 2020 before peaking in Dec. 2020, when there were 2,347 thefts.

“Thieves can remove a catalytic converter in a matter of minutes, and leave the vehicle owner with a hefty repair bill,” said Steve Miller, ASE certified technician and manager of the Grandview AAA Car Care Plus. “It can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to replace a catalytic converter, depending on the vehicle. Plus, you’ll often have additional damage that needs to be repaired when thieves hastily remove catalytic converters from cars.”

In the Heights

Cleveland Heights saw a decline in catalytic converter thefts in 2020 (11 total throughout the year), but that number has jumped to 18 thefts in 2021, Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg told Patch.

Most of the thefts occurred overnight and in parking lots, not driveways. That's because thieves typically use a reciprocating saw, Mecklenburg said, a loud device that requires a buffer to not be heard. Parking lots offer more privacy for the thieves.

Here's how Mecklenburg suggested your protect your vehicle from catalytic converter thieves:

• Park in a well-lit lot or in a secure garage, if possible.
• Install surveillance cameras, if you can. Try to secure a camera that alerts you if there is motion, allowing you to capture the thief in the act.
• Consider purchasing a metal cage that can be installed over the converter to protect it.
• If you hear a reciprocating saw, call Cleveland Heights police immediately.
• If you see someone loitering in a parking lot, acting suspiciously, contact police.