Eagan Hit With Rash Of Catalytic Converter Thefts

EAGAN, MN — The Eagan Police Department issued a crime alert Tuesday about an increase in catalytic converter thefts. The catalytic converter is part of a car's exhaust system.

The part contains platinum, which thieves can sell to scrap yards. Thieves also cam mine the platinum out of catalytic converters and sell it to third party precious metal dealers.

The thefts can occur in a matter of minutes and often target Honda make vehicles and specifically Toyota Prius, Eagan police said in a news release.

In an effort to combat the spike, the investigations unit has deployed bait cars around the city designed to trigger when this type of theft is attempted.

When a bait car is triggered, covert cameras will capture the suspect’s images, and officers will be immediately dispatched to the area, police said.

These thefts have been occurring all over the metro, but September is on track to have the most thefts to date in Eagan.

Eagan police are asking the public’s help in reporting suspicious behavior related to the thefts. Suspicious behaviors include:

• A person working under a vehicle in a parking lot
• A person with an electric saw or grinder appearing to work on a vehicle
• Cutting or grinding noises while the person is under a car
• Working on vehicles in parking lots such as grocery stores, apartment buildings, or other public areas.

The thefts have occurred at all times of the day and in very public areas, police said.

If anyone witnesses this suspicious behavior, police encourage them to call 911 and report what they are seeing.