Greenville County, SC

City Police Investigators warn citizens that thieves are targeting some vehicles and stealing
catalytic converters. What is a catalytic converter? It is a device used to reduce the toxicity of
emissions from an internal combustion engine. It is attached to your exhaust system and located
underneath your vehicle. The part contains precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium.
Thieves sell them to metal recyclers. While the thief may net $100 on the sale, the cost to replace
the convert and repair the vehicle is between $400 and $1500.

Vehicles being targeted the most are those with greater ground clearance, such as Toyota trucks
or sports utility vehicles. Depending on the make of the vehicle, thieves - using battery-operated
saws – can remove the vehicle part in less than a minute. They tend to strike vehicles parked
close together in parking lots at night, but thefts have been reported at homes and in broad
daylight. A victim does not realize that the converter has been stolen until the vehicle is turned on
and it makes a very loud noise.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP DETER SUCH THEFTS?

1. TRY TO PARK IN A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE WHERE A STRANGER UNDER YOUR VEHICLE WOULD BE INSTANTLY SUSPICIOUS.
2. WHEN POSSIBLE, KEEP YOUR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE INSTEAD OF PARKED IN YOUR DRIVEWAY OR IN THE STREET.
3. IF YOU HAVE A CAR ALARM, A COMPETENT INSTALLER CAN ADD A SENSOR ON THE CONVERTER TO SET OFF AN ALARM WHEN THIEVES TRY TO STEAL IT.
4. FOR LESS THAN $50, MOST AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOPS OR MUFFLER SHOPS CAN TACK WELD THE NUT AND BOLT WHICH SHOULD PREVENT MOST THIEVES FROM EASILY UNBOLTING THE ASSEMBLY.
5. ENGRAVE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER (NOT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER) ON THE
CONVERTER. THIS WOULD ASSIST IN RETURNING THE CONVERTER TO YOU IF IT IS RECOVERED AND ALSO HELP PROSECUTE THE CRIMINAL.
6. IF YOU SEE SUSPICIOUS PERSONS OR VEHICLES IN PARKING LOTS OR NEAR VEHICLES AT YOUR HOME, TRY TO OBTAIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE AND THE TAG NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO CALLING 9-1-1. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON THESE CRIMES, CALL THE GREENVILLE POLICE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT AT 467-5342.

Prepared by Greenville Crime Analysis

You can see related crime information on the Greenville County Crime News & Links page.

This post is one of several found in: Crime, Greenville, Vehicles