I would like to take the opportunity to keep you informed about a costly crime trend that has plagued vehicle owners nationwide. Catalytic converters are vehicle parts that contain valuable platinum group metals like rhodium, iridium, and palladium. Thieves can pocket up to $1000 for each stolen converter. The increase in these thefts coincides with the increase in the cost for these precious metals and the increase in demand for catalytic converters due to increasing vehicle emission regulation. Criminals can steal your catalytic converter in moments, using tools found at hardware stores, leaving you with costly parts to replace and repair. While this is a difficult crime to combat, there are measures you can take to help keep your vehicle safe.
Park smart. If you have access to park in a garage, take advantage and secure your vehicle inside. If not, a well-lit driveway monitored by camera surveillance is your next best option. If you have the ability, change the settings on your car alarm to go off when vibrations are sensed.
Cage your converter. A muffler shop can help you weld a rebar cage around your converter, to keep thieves at bay. Or, purchase a lock designed to go on your converter. Some you may be able to install yourself. While these options come with a cost, it outweighs the cost of replacing a converter. Replacing a stolen catalytic converter typically costs victims at least $2000.
Check in with your insurance. See what your deductible would be to repair a stolen catalytic converter. Some policies may cover anti-theft device installation or offer a discount on your overall insurance plan for installing a device.
Please be aware of suspicious behavior. Generally, most people do not do construction work in the late night or early morning hours. The sound of a saw during those times could be an indicator that a theft is occurring in the area. If you hear or see something suspicious, please immediately contact the Oceanside Police Department at 760-435-4911 or for emergency response dial 9-1-1.
Please visit Oceanside PD on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for more information on how you can prevent becoming a victim of this type of theft and more.
