Catalytic converter theft is skyrocketing in Chicago, as thieves cut off the valuable exhaust device in minutes for resale on the black market. It may take car owners months to replace it.
Luis Oliva, an automotive technician at Milito’s Auto Repair in Lincoln Park, examines the exhaust system of the Toyota Prius where thieves cut off and stole the catalytic converter, on Aug. 24, 2022. The precious metals in the converter fetch hundreds of dollars in resale but cost car owners thousands to replace, often with delays of several months to get the parts.
The catalytic converter contains valuable precious metals including rhodium, palladium and platinum, which can fetch hundreds of dollars in resale on the black market. But the repair bills can run into the thousands of dollars for car owners, and with supply chain disruptions, the wait for replacement parts can take months. Most insurance policies don’t cover rental cars beyond 30 days.
California is the epicenter of catalytic converter thefts, accounting for 37% of reported incidents last year, followed by Texas, Washington, North Carolina and Minnesota. Illinois ranked 11th for catalytic converter thefts in 2021, according to the NICB. Thieves hit trucks and SUVs because they have higher ground clearance and are easier to get under, according to experts. Hybrids like the Prius are targeted because the catalytic converters contain a higher concentration of precious metals, making them more valuable for resale.
Chicago-area repair shops are seeing both a surge in catalytic converter theft repairs and a delay in getting replacement parts. “Not a day goes by that we don’t have a call for two or three catalytic converters,” said Loquericio, 66. In 2014, Loquercio’s Hyundai dealership in Elgin was hit when thieves removed catalytic converters from five new cars on the lot. Loquercio has since added overnight video surveillance at all of his dealerships, helping them nab more than a half-dozen thieves in the past year, he said.Fleet thefts are also a growing problem.
Thieves have targeted the emission control device over the past decade as the rising value of metals in the converter rivaled gold. They sharpened their craft to remove it so quickly that parked cars could be hit without anyone taking notice.This year, 36 states including Illinois introduced legislation to curb catalytic converter theft. The Illinois law, passed in June, prohibits a recyclable metal dealer from purchasing a catalytic converter with a value over $100 using cash.
A Toledo company has built a booming aftermarket business with its CatClamp, a wire cable cage that attaches to the exhaust system. The device starts at $181 and runs north of $900 for heavy duty trucks, and can be installed by do-it-yourselfers or mechanics.Kate Brueggemeier, general manager at CatClamp, said business is up 40-fold during the pandemic. The company has sold 50,000 units over the past 12 months. Pre-pandemic, annual sales were closer to 1,000 units, she said.
Reiner, who was working as a teacher at Chicago Bulls College Prep on the Near West Side, called the school to say she wouldn’t be coming in and went back to bed.“I knew I was in for a headache of a day, trying to get it figured out,” Reiner said.
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