For thieves, stealing catalytic converters is big business.
Now one police department has outlined which vehicles get hit the most in cities such as Burnaby.
Catalytic converters control exhaust emissions to reduce pollutants, but they have been a target for thieves because of an increase in the price of metals they contain.
“We're seeing late 90’s to mid-2000’s model vehicles being targeted for catalytic converter theft,” reads a tweet by the New Westminster Police Department account. “Often import vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Honda Element and Odyssey, Toyota Prius, and recently the Honda Accord. SUVs, pick-ups, commercial cube vans like the Ford E350 cube van and Ford F150 are targeted because they sit higher and are easier for thieves to access.”
Police encourage drivers to park in well-lit areas or a secure garage. Be aware of any suspicious activity or noises around your vehicle. Don't hesitate to call 911 if you see a theft in progress, and document as many suspect descriptors as possible, police said.
The British Columbia government has moved recently to prevent thefts of catalytic converters, a crime that costs millions every year.
The province has changed the regulations for metal dealers and recyclers to require them to report each transaction, including seller information, to police.
The Insurance Corporation of B.C. says converter theft claims have climbed from 89 in 2017 to 1,953 last year, totalling more than $4 million in claim costs for 2021.
Up until the regulation changes, the converters could be sold without providing information about the seller, allowing them to remain anonymous.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says changing the rules will help police find offenders and work to reduce the incentive for people to steal them in the first place.
- With reporting by the Canadian Press
