Catalytic Converter Thefts Up, Protect Your Car In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH — Catalytic converter thefts are up nationwide and in Ohio, according to travel organization AAA. Lakewood 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.”

Lakewood had an uptick in catalytic converter thefts several weeks ago, according to Cpt. William Albrecht. However, there have been no such thefts recently, he said. Police do not yet have leads on the earlier thefts.

To protect your vehicle, Albrecht said, park in a well-lit area and report any suspicious activity to police immediately.

Here are additional tips from AAA:

• Consider installing a motion sensor security light.
• Lock your car doors overnight.
• If you can, install a surveillance camera.
• Consider installing an anti-theft device. These usually cost between $100 and $300 and prevent thieves from cutting out the catalytic converter.
• Keep your insurance coverage up-to-date.