FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – Catalytic converter thefts are reportedly on the rise in the Fargo-Moorhead area, according to a local auto shop. They’re warning others to be wary of your vehicles after receiving six converter theft reports in just one day.
It can happen in just 90 seconds – the process of cutting a car’s catalytic converter can be high-reward pay days for thieves looking to make a quick buck.
“They just take a sawzall, cut through two pieces of pipe and pull it out. Depending on how quick they are, it could take one to three minutes and they could be gone,” says Amy Hagman, of Bruns Automotive.
She says their Fargo shop has seen an uptick in customers requesting catalytic converter replacement quotes after falling victim to thefts. According to Hagman, six customers reported thefts in a singular day.
“Last week, we had two come in where the cats had been stolen and all of a sudden, yesterday, we received four calls and had two gentlemen stop in with cats stolen,” she explains.
Thieves gain access by sliding under your vehicle and cutting the converter in seconds. It contains high-valued metal, worth hundreds of dollars.
Hagman speculates the increase in price of these metals are what’s causing these local theft numbers to rise.
She says, “Now we’re starting to see those precious metals go up in cost. When that goes up in cost, you tend to see cats getting stolen,”
Common targets are heavy-duty trucks, box vans, or any vehicles located in a fleet. The converters are much larger on these vehicles, thus providing a thief with more money if they were to sell them.
A nationwide issue, a proposal on Capitol Hill was reintroduced just last Wednesday to combat converter thefts. They propose requiring each catalytic converter to be marked with a traceable identification number, making it easier for law enforcement to detect stolen pieces.
“So that way, when they are being resold and things like that, people can know it’s a stolen cat because that area is damaged or that number isn’t where it’s supposed to be,” Hagman states.
Hagman and other team members at Bruns Automotive created a social media post, warning others of the increased theft cases.
She says prevention is difficult, but there are ways to possibly protect your vehicle.
These local experts recommend parking in well-lit areas and aiming home security cameras at your parked car. They say installing catalytic converter security devices, such as Cat Rap, can also confuse someone looking to cut your device.
If you do fall victim, they say it’s best to call your local police department as well as your insurance company.
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