Catalytic Converter Thefts Way Up In Oak Creek, Nationwide

OAK CREEK, WI — The Oak Creek Police Department reported that a significant increase locally in catalytic converter thefts reflects a growing trend nationwide.

According to the OPD, thefts of catalytic converters from cars rose 163 percent from 2019 to 2020. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) said a recent study showed the average of 282 thefts per month in 2018 had risen to 1,203 per month in 2020.

Catalytic converts, according to the NICB, look like a small muffler and are located in a car's exhaust system. They are designed to convert environmentally hazardous exhaust emitted by an engine into less hazardous gasses. To do this, catalytic converters are made with platinum, palladium or rhodium, all materials that have increased in value.

As of December 2020, rhodium was valued at $14,500 per ounce, palladium at $2,336 per ounce and platinum $1,061 per ounce. Typically, recyclers will pay $50 to $250 per catalytic converter, the NICB said.

"Vehicle thefts, carjackings, and break-ins are all crimes we’ve witnessed trending upward for several months, and now catalytic converter thefts are also on the rise," said David Glawe, president and CEO of the NICB. "We have seen a significant increase during the pandemic. It's an opportunistic crime. As the value of the precious metals contained within the catalytic converters continues to increase, so do the number of thefts of these devices. There is a clear connection between times of crisis, limited resources, and disruption of the supply chain that drives investors towards these precious metals.”

Glawe said the victim of this type of theft can be forced to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 to get their vehicle fixed, though sometimes theft is covered by insurance.

The NICB has offered these tips to protect yourself against the theft of your catalytic converter:

• Park in a garage or in a secured parking area.
• Install a bright, motion sensor light to dissuade potential thieves.
• Park fleet vehicles in secured, alarmed and well-lit yards.
• Always lock your vehicle and set an alarm.
• Install an anti-theft device.

The OPD said that if you see suspicious activity near parked cars or are a victim of a catalytic converter theft, you should call the department at 414-762-8200.