PITTSBURGH — 11 News has done a lot of reporting this year on the rise of catalytic converter thefts.
We put a map together back in May to show you just some of the communities targeted.
At the time, about 130 catalytic converters had been stolen.
But new information from Pittsburgh police says more than 180 of these car parts have been stolen, just in the city.
Police say there are two main reasons why catalytic converter thefts are on the rise: people can make a big buck by selling them and they are easy to steal. Thieves can quickly slip underneath a parked car and cut out the converter and in just minutes take off, leaving drivers pretty much stranded and missing an important part of the exhaust system.
The latest numbers from police show the gigantic spike in these crimes:
In 2020, police reported that there were only four catalytic converter thefts.
By 2021, that number had skyrocketed to 171 converters taken in 73 thefts, because some cars have more than one converter.
This year, the number of thefts again increased to 182.
Police say this is a citywide issue and that thieves are targeting these converters because they contain precious metals like platinum, which can be sold for a lot of money. They also warned drivers — what cars seemed to be the target, and why?
“It’s no surprise that more energy efficient cars like hybrids tend to be targeted more frequently because they often have multiple converters. Toyota Priuses tend to be high on the list of targeted cars as well as cars like Honda Elements, Hyundai Tuscon, Kia Sportage,” said police Detective Donald Pasquarelli.
Police say to prevent thefts, they suggest installing anti-theft devices, parking in a lit or gated area, or placing your car inside your garage or driveway.
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