The theft of catalytic converters in New York City significantly decreased from 8,591 three years ago to 1,467 last year, thanks to law enforcement efforts. The NYPD implemented measures like an etching program to track stolen converters, making them harder to sell illegally. Thieves target catalytic converters for their valuable metals, making theft lucrative. In 2023, thefts have continued to decline, with only 648 reported by May. Nationwide, insurance claims for catalytic converter thefts also decreased from 45,000 in 2022 to 21,000 in 2023, indicating a broader trend in reducing such crimes.
"You can get a converter out in less than a minute if you know what you're doing," Hermann said in a phone call, adding that they can go for up to $500. "So it's a pretty lucrative biz."
Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain valuable metals that can be extracted and sold for hundreds of dollars, according to Christopher Herrmann, a former crime analyst supervisor with the NYPD.
The NYPD has taken steps to better track the devices, making them less attractive to thieves. After thefts of the devices boomed in the city in 2021 and 2022, the NYPD promoted an etching program that allows car owners to attach a number to a vehicle's catalytic converter.
Last year, the number of stolen catalytic converters in the city was down to 1,467 - a trend that played out across the country.
#catalytic-converter-theft #new-york-city-crime #law-enforcement #theft-prevention #vehicle-security
Collection
[
|
...
]