Thieves Target Catalytic Converters In Westlake, Ohio

WESTLAKE, OH — Catalytic converter thefts are up nationwide and in Ohio, according to travel organization AAA. Westlake 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 Westlake

Catalytic converter thefts are up in neighboring cities and one incident has already been reported in Westlake, according to Cpt. Gerald Vogel of Westlake police. Most thieves target commercial vehicles, though they will occasionally steal from a residential car.

"This is a crime that comes in waves. As a person or group is let out of jail for past convictions of the same crime, the wave hits again until they are once again arrested. The prices of precious metals for scrapping also plays a factor," Vogel said.

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

• Pull cars into garages, where possible.
• If you can't park indoors, park in a well-lit area.
• Install surveillance cameras around your vehicles.
• Limit access to vehicles using a fence or garage.
• Consider installing a cage around your vehicle's catalytic converter to make it harder to steal.