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Report of catalytic converter theft on 28th Street
A reader wrote in with an account of more recent theft in the neighborhood:
Last week, in broad daylight, someone stole a catalytic converter from a car in the Richmond Community Hospital parking lot off Nine Mile Road. They cut if off with a torch. […] Another person with the same style car also had their’s cut the same day, but for whatever reason they were unable to complete the job and left it partially attached.
The RPD’s Crime Incident Information database shows a report of a THEFT OF MOTOR VEHICLE PARTS/ACCESSORIES from a 2011 Honda CRV in a parking lot on the 1500 block of 28th Street on July 18 at 7:00 AM. There doesn’t seem to be a 2nd incident reported.
Online reports say that thieves steal catalytic converters for their recycling value, which averages $50 but can go much higher depending on the model.
The recycle companies have to know that these are stolen goods. If they buy them, they are as guilty as the thief and should be prosecuted!
Has the RPD put these businesses on notice?
How could they know it’s stolen? I don’t have a receipt to show for the catalytic converter on my car.
It recently happened to some cars parked at the parking lot used by MCV employees, across from the Broad Street Exxon.
Jean, I heard that the converters contain an expensive metal , that requires the converter to be melted in order to obtain the metal.
Katzenjammer
You drive your car and park it. You get in your car to leave and your exhaust is 50 times louder. It’s basically no muffler, every car is required to have one due to emissions. It’s VERY obvious!
Weather someone tries to recycle the whole thing or a container of some melted metal it’s still stolen and the person buying it is as at fault as the theif.
The same as byuing a $1500.00 bicycle from someone for $50.00.
They contain platinum and rhodium but the down side is that there is only about $30 worth in it while to replace the converter can be $1,500.
@ JOE WALSH – katzenjammer was referring to the recycling folks – how would they know they were buying stolen goods?