Catalytic converter theft has grow to be an issue, not solely within the US however globally as properly. However do know the way straightforward it’s to steal a catalytic converter from a car?
A CCTV footage from Washington exhibits simply that, as launched by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Workplace (PCSO) Twitter account. Within the video, which you’ll watch within the embedded tweet beneath, you’ll be able to see two males getting out of a white Acura TL and leaping below a Ford F-250 to take out the dear catalytic converter.
The entire course of solely took lower than a minute, together with getting again to the getaway car and dashing away, all performed below broad daylight. It was fairly fast and fearless; the police stated that the thieves used battery-operated saws to chop the catalytic converter off the poor truck.
The sheriff’s workplace remains to be making an attempt to determine the thieves, even providing money rewards to anybody who can determine the criminals.
For the uninitiated, there is a excessive price concerned in making catalytic converters, which embody costly elements comparable to palladium and rhodium. This has led to elevated theft as criminals see the chance with these pricy elements.
Catalytic converter theft has grow to be an issue within the state of Washington as seen in earlier reviews, whereas California experiences the identical subject. The theft price in LA County by 400 % from 2019 to 2020, with a current bust occurring final March for recovered catalytic converters valued at round $750,000.
Actually, automobile manufacturers are beginning to provide methods to battle catalytic converter thefts. One instance is Toyota. Whereas extra trendy Toyota and Lexus automobiles are usually not targets of catalytic converter thefts due to their differing design, the automaker is providing a monitoring package for older fashions to fight the issue within the UK. Toyota can also be working with native authorities to assist monitor down these thieves.