Catalytic converter thieves are hitting abandoned vehicles
By Terry Murry on Thursday, June 24th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
KENNEWICK – The Washington State Patrol reports that thieves have begun to target abandoned cars to steal their catalytic converters. Within the past few days, an unknown person drove down Interstate 182 in Richland and Pasco and cut the catalytic converter out of three abandoned vehicles.
Last week, a trooper passed two cars parked on the shoulder of State Route 397 in Kennewick and saw a person under a truck. The trooper determined the person was trying to steal a catalytic converter from an abandoned vehicle.
“The suspect received multiple charges,” WSP Trooper Chris Thorson said.” “The suspect was charged with second-degree attempted theft and malicious mischief.”
It takes an experienced thief less than two minutes to steal a catalytic converter, and usually only requires either a wrench if it’s bolted on or a reciprocating saw if it’s welded. Car and Driver reports that two of the three rare earth metals (palladium and platinum) used in catalytic converters are worth more per ounce than gold.
Thorson advises drivers who must abandon their vehicles to make sure they’re out of traffic on the right side of the road and return as soon as possible to remove them, since WSP cannot regularly patrol and protect abandoned vehicles.
