Local auto shop sees uptick in catalytic converter theft

PEORIA (25 NEWS) - “It was so loud it sounded like a stock car,” Co-Owner of Pottstown Meat and Deli Bob Barth said.

Barth was loading his company van when he heard a troubling noise.

“I knew immediately what was wrong, because I’ve heard other vehicles driving up and down the road and they told me what the problem was,” Barth said.

He was the victim of a catalytic converter theft. A part of the exhaust system that aids in emission control and is very pricey.

Barth said, “the officer that came and wrote the police report... he says it will be over a thousand dollars, and I thought oh geez.”

Barth wasn’t the only person in Peoria this has happened to. He said he knew of two other businesses that got hit around the time he did.

He took his car to Beachler’s Auto Shop and they said they’d seen more catalytic converter thefts in Fall then they’d seen in past years combined.

“We are starting to see it more frequently than normal,” Vice President of Beachler’s Brett Beachler said.

Beachler said catalytic converters were targeted for theft, because they were made of expensive materials and they were easy to get out of a car.

“Somebody gets underneath the car. They take a common saw from one of your parts or tool house and they cut the catalytic converter off,” Beachler said. “There are systems that you can install on your exhaust that will slow down the stealing process. It won’t necessarily prevent it, but it can slow it down.”

Catalytic converter locks or alarms were two options that could save thousands. Another option was, putting cars in a garage if you could or a well-lit, heavily-trafficked area at night.

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