Full Notification

ADVISORY: Richmond and cities across McHenry County have seen a rise in the theft of catalytic converters from vehicle exhaust systems.
You may notice a loud rumbling or roaring sound as soon as you turn on the engine if your catalytic converter is missing, that usually gets louder when you accelerate. The exhaust is not working properly, so the vehicle may drive rougher than usual, often with a sense of sputtering as you change speed. A thief can steal your converter in less than a minute with the use of some simple hand tools.

Preventing catalytic converter theft:

• Park in a garage if possible. Thieves target vehicles parked in driveways and on streets.
• Park in well-lit areas.
• Install motion-sensitive lights. Simply adding floodlights that turn on when they detect motion can help deter would-be thieves.
• Get to know your neighbors. Having another set of eyes on the lookout will help you recognize anyone who seems out of place and might be casing parked vehicles in your neighborhood.