Catalytic Converter Theft “Endemic” with Quad City Auto Companies

BETTENDORF, Iowa (KWQC) – There has been an increase in thefts involving vehicles lately, but this time only part of your car is stolen.

Police say it’s not just a local problem, but something that is seen nationwide.

It’s a part of your car that you might never have seen or heard of, but without it you would definitely hear the difference. It’s called a catalytic converter, and thieves sell them for money in junkyards.

“They crawl under these vehicles and they use a saw-everything, and they are able to cut them up quite quickly,” said Chief Kieth Kimball of the Bettendorf Police Department.

Located under the belly of your car, a catalytic converter is a small piece of metal that turns harmful exhaust gases, like carbon monoxide, into carbon dioxide and water vapor. The process is handled through its honeycomb interior, which is coated with precious metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum, which purify toxic gases.

Although every gasoline-powered car has been fitted with a catalytic converter since 1975, the recent decision to tame emissions has tripled the value of the precious metal interior, becoming up to 12 times more valuable per ounce than the gold, according to the New York Times.

That, and the fact that they are so easy to steal, caused a lot of trouble for the local auto stores.

“It’s endemic. There are stores all around this area that are having issues with this so I’m not the only one, ”said Gary Dyer, owner of Gary’s Auto Shop in Bettendorf,“ this is a really big inconvenience for my customers. .

Gary says thieves have already stolen four converters from his client’s cars parked outside his store this year. The fifth attempt came last week when a man named Richard Scott tried to remove a catalytic converter from a Lexus in Gary’s yard and was seen by a witness on the road who called the police.

“This guy was caught red-handed,” Gary said.

Police say most catalytic converter thefts are not so easy to spot.

“You never know when they’re going to strike and where they’re going to strike,” admitted Chief Kieth Kimball.

Chief Kimball says smaller, more remote businesses with junk cars or large vans parked in front are more often targeted by junk thieves. One way to avoid this could be to light your yard and install security cameras, police say.

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