Catalytic converter thefts in Texas: Experts share warnings

FORT WORTH, Texas — Thieves are stealing catalytic converters at a excessive price, making it troublesome for producers to maintain up with the demand of replacements. 

One truck accent retailer in Fort Worth is working to assist Texas drivers defend their automobiles. 

Trail End Truck Accessories is a longtime family-owned enterprise. Owner Craig Ford says the catalytic converter protect has develop into their hottest product. 

“It is being distributed all over the United States right now,” mentioned Ford. 

The protect is designed to cease thieves from stealing converters — which has develop into a sizzling merchandise. 

“You’ve got a 12-gauge piece of metal that has tamper-resistant bolts and bracket free on there and everything. That person cannot just come in there and lay down and just hit that converter,” mentioned Ford.

Unfortunately, Ford and his employees have heard from drivers who’ve been hit by converter thieves two or 3 times on the identical car. Ford defined when the converter is lower off from the car, the driving force will discover it instantly because of the sound the automobile makes when it began. 

Officer Steven Rutherford and his colleagues on the Farmers Branch Police Department are seeing catalytic converter thefts virtually each day.

“Do whatever you can do to secure your vehicle,” mentioned Rutherford.

Rutherford warns a converter theft solely takes seconds. In most instances, the thefts occur on automobiles which might be parked in poorly lit areas. 

Due to the variety of thefts, Farmers Branch cops are utilizing social media to warn drivers. They have posted security suggestions for drivers. 

Police recommend that drivers be smarter about the place they park their automobiles, make investments in safety cameras, a car alarm system, and naturally, a catalytic converter protect. 

“This is a worldwide problem that we see going on, in which thieves in a matter of minutes are stealing catalytic converters,” mentioned Rutherford.

In the Farmers Branch space, 20% of catalytic converter thefts contain Toyota Tundras, adopted by Tacomas at 12%, and 10% entails Mitsubishi Outlanders, police say.  

Thieves are additionally concentrating on Toyota Prius converters, which include supplies that internet more cash at scrapyards keen to pay high greenback. 

In the Indianapolis, Indiana space lawmakers handed laws that requires scrapyards to gather the identification of individuals buying and selling valuable metals, like catalytic converters. The transfer not solely holds the scrapyard operators accountable, but it surely slows down the variety of catalytic converter thefts throughout a number of cities. 

For now, companies, like Trail End, have anti-theft shields obtainable for a number of the most focused automobiles. Trail End can also be trying to improve stock as extra folks report thefts. 

But identical to the police, Ford warns converter thieves are concentrating on each make and mannequin.  

“You’ve got to really put your vehicle up. If you don’t have a shield,” mentioned Ford.