Victims of catalytic converter theft protest added MPI fee on higher mileage cars as thefts surge – Winnipeg

Manitobans whose catalytic converters have been stolen are warning of a surge in thefts and a shock Manitoba Public Insurance coverage cost they imagine must be thrown out for older vehicles.

Workers working at Winnipeg’s Loveday Mushroom Farms have gotten visits from a grinch forward of Christmas.

Within the final 5 weeks, somebody nicked six catalytic converters from private SUVs and vans parked outdoors the farm’s entrance doorways between 8 a.m. and three p.m., in broad daylight, the farm’s operations director Dennis Danz informed 680 CJOB on Thursday.

Police imagine thieves are after these expensive exhaust system elements that comprise uncommon metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium to allow them to be traded in for tons of of {dollars} at scrap metallic sellers.

Danz mentioned the farm’s safety cameras detected a suspect this week, which they’ll have police overview.

“However the different 5, we weren’t capable of spot anyone. That’s how briskly issues go for them,” he mentioned.

Farm workers are being caught off guard by not solely the lack of the half on the finish of a piece day but additionally an added MPI “betterment price” that may value them a number of hundred {dollars} on high of their deductible, Danz mentioned.

“It’s devastating. We rent lots of new immigrants, so that they don’t have $200 deductibles, or $500, and with the betterment price, it’s one other $500. You’re taking a look at a $1,000 invoice,” Danz mentioned. “It’s stunning to them. All the staff are nervous. They don’t need to park anyplace.”

“It’s appalling it’s taking place on Christmas, too, the way in which issues, costs are going and the whole lot else.”

Betterment charges apply when new elements are used to switch a used half, MPI spokesperson Brian Smiley 680 CJOB on Thursday. For catalytic converters, it’s a cost that kicks in on vehicles with over 80,000 kilometres.

The fee runs on a sliding scale as much as 20 per cent of the worth of a brand new catalytic converter, he mentioned, a cap that dropped this previous summer season.

“In response to this alarming rise of catalytic converter thefts, we adjusted our betterment price, capping at 20 per cent in comparison with the earlier 60 per cent, realizing there was some monetary stress on our prospects,” Smiley mentioned.

“I do know some folks aren’t pleased with that.”

Manitoba’s Scrap Metallic Gross sales Accountability Act launched in early December appears to crack down on scrap metallic theft and resale.

If the invoice passes, it might ban money transactions on extremely susceptible objects and require sellers to supply identification and proof of possession for catalytic converters, amongst different issues.

Winnipeg police knowledge suggests catalytic converter thefts are up 415 per cent over final 12 months, popping out at 1,464 in 2021 as of Tuesday. That quantity jumps to 1,620 when tried thefts and break and enters are included. Winnipeg police wasn’t obtainable for an interview Friday.

Manitoba RCMP are additionally reporting spikes in different elements of the province, equivalent to Dauphin receiving 10 complaints of theft over the past three weeks.

Mounties advocate engraving your car ID quantity on the converter, parking in well-lit areas that ideally have video surveillance and setting your automotive alarm to go off if there’s any form of vibration.

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