Over the past few weeks the Fairfield Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit and Special Operations Team have been working numerous catalytic converter thefts throughout Fairfield. On Wednesday, March 31, 2021, detectives arrested Aaron Hoover, a 26 year old Vallejo resident, for the theft of multiple catalytic converters. Hoover was responsible for several theft cases in Cordelia Public Service Area.
A search warrant was authored for his residence, burglary tools and other items related to the crimes were found. Hoover was booked into Solano County Jail on multiple charges: felony grand property theft, possession of burglary tools, tampering with a vehicle and other probation violation.
Thieves nationwide are slithering under cars, Swiping Catalytic Converters in Minutes. The metals prices, in turn, are fueling a black market in stolen catalytic converters, which can be sawed off from the belly of a car in minutes, and fetch several hundred dollars at a scrapyard, which then sells it to recyclers who extract the metals.
Did you know thieves can recycle catalytic converters online bypassing California Bill SB 627 - requiring a core recycler, as defined, that accepts, ships, or sells used catalytic converters to maintain specified information regarding the purchase and sale of the catalytic converters for not less than 2 years. The bill would prohibit a core recycler from providing payment for a catalytic converter unless the payment is made by check, the check is mailed or provided no earlier than 3 days after the date of sale, unless the seller is a business, and the core recycler obtains a photograph or video of the seller, a written statement regarding the origin of the catalytic converter, and certain other identifying information, as specified.
Catalytic converters, the shiny bulbous contraptions found between a car’s engine and the muffler, might seem like an unlikely target of a national crime wave. Installed in almost all gasoline cars and trucks sold in the United States since 1975, the converters have a honeycomb-like interior — coated with precious metals like palladium, rhodium and platinum — that scrubs the worst toxic pollutants from the car’s exhaust.
About 80 % of demand for palladium and rhodium now comes from the automotive sector. At the same time, the effects of the pandemic on mining in South Africa, a major producer of rhodium, has kept supply limited. This is why you’ve seen this very dramatic rise in demand and prices.
Why is the Toyota Prius such a big target? Prius converters fetch a higher price because their gasoline engines aren’t in as much use, and so it can take longer for the car to burn out the precious metals.
Thieves typically use a saw or wrench to remove catalytic converters, depending on whether the catalytic converter is bolted or welded in — and removal can take as little as one minute.
So, what can you do to help prevent catalytic converter theft?
Consider these tips from The Spruce to help protect your car from catalytic converter theft:
Video: Understanding the wave of catalytic converter thefts https://youtu.be/d1OoxDe-IDg
• When possible think of ways to park that would make it challenging for thieves to get under your vehicle.
• If you have a garage at your house, park your car inside and keep the garage door shut.
• Have the catalytic converter welded to your car's frame, which may make it harder to steal.
• The aftermarket has responded by designing products to deter and prevent catalytic converter theft. The idea behind such devices is that if it takes too long to make the steal, the thieves will move on to easier pickings. The “Cat Security” “CatClamp, for example, which starts at $160-$350, is a hard-to-defeat cage or shield installed around or over the catalytic converter. This product can be installed by a mechanic or at home with an included specialized tool and is backed by a money-back guarantee.
• Consider engraving your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the catalytic converter — this may help alert a scrap dealer that it was stolen and make it easier to identify the owner.
• Calibrate your car's alarm to set off when it detects vibration.
Understanding when your car might be a target for catalytic converter theft is the first key to preventing it. By following these protective measures, you may help deter thieves from targeting your car.
