Newly released data from the Dallas Police Department has shown that the rate of catalytic converter thefts in 2021 was up by over 300% from 2020.
Catalytic converters are part of car engines, which clean harmful substances, like carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide and hydrocarbons, from the vehicle’s exhaust emissions. The device is designed to convert the environmentally hazardous exhaust emitted by a car engine into less harmful gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor.
According to the Dallas Police Department, 123 catalytic converter thefts were recorded in the city in 2019, and had risen to 655 in 2020.
However, 2021 saw a record 2,187 catalytic converters reported stolen in the city, according to Dallas PD.
Earlier reports from The Dallas Express revealed that Dallas Police had received 800 reports of catalytic converter robberies as of July 2021.
Authorities revealed that vehicles most at risk of getting their converters stolen are those that have more space between the undercarriage and the pavement, which makes them easier to get underneath.
According to CBS 11 News, the National Insurance Crime Bureau has released a warning to car owners about converter thefts.
Those engaged in the thefts are usually after the platinum, palladium, or rhodium contained in the catalytic converters.
According to The National Insurance Crime Bureau, rhodium was valued at $14,500 per ounce as of December 2020, while an ounce of platinum or palladium was valued at $1,061 and $2,336, respectively.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends that car owners install a catalytic converter anti-theft device and park their cars in a secure, enclosed area with adequate lighting and alarm systems.
The Dallas Police Department revealed that while they are doing their best to catch the criminals, the best thing car owners can do is report any suspicious activity to the department.
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