These vehicles are common targets for catalytic converter theft
Law enforcement agencies are seeing an uptick in catalytic converter thefts. It only takes seconds to steal a catalytic converter, which are cut from vehicles. Thieves are after precious metals that are housed in the catalytic converters, which help reduce harmful toxic emissions from internal combustion engines. The increased value of precious metals such as palladium, rhodium and platinum, has led to an exponential increase in thefts over the past few years. Victims may have to spend thousands of dollars to replace a stolen converter. If your converter is missing, your vehicle will run very loudly.
The most commonly targeted vehicles include:
Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks
Ford F-series pick-up trucks and Econoline vans
Honda Accord sedans and Element SUVs
Jeep Patriot SUVs
Mitsubishi Outlander SUVs
To reduce theft:
Park in a garage or well-lit area
Be vigilant of your property, and the property of your neighbors. Be on the lookout for suspicious people under or around vehicles, or those with numerous catalytic converters, with cut marks, in their possession.
Mark the vehicle VIN on the converter using a UV pen
Contact law enforcement if you observe any unusual or suspicious activity.
Emergency: 911
Non-Emergency: 941-932-9300
Submit tips online: bradentonpd.com/crimetips
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