Catalytic converter theft in Seattle rises from 13 in 2019 to over 700 in 2020 (Bellevue: crime rate, neighborhood)

[usernametaken]

https://komonews.com/news/local/both...s-from-7-buses

There's been an explosion in catalytic converter thefts across the Seattle area. In 2019, there were just 13 such thefts reported in Seattle, but that number ballooned to more than 700 last year.

Investigators say it's rare and valuable Earth metals inside the converters such as platinum, paladium and rhodium -- with the latter now worth more than the price of gold -- that are fueling the thefts.

[primaltech]

Gee, I wonder if that has to do with increased economic hardship from the pandemic.

[Guineas]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Gee, I wonder if that has to do with increased economic hardship from the pandemic.

More like meth heads found a new source of revenue.

[fnh]

This is certainly nothing unique to Seattle. Thefts have risen across the USA as the metals contained within fetch record high prices.


Thieves Nationwide Are Slithering Under Cars, Swiping Catalytic Converters
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/c...ter-theft.html

[MechAndy]

We have had to deal with this in CA about 10 years ago.
They stole 3 of them in my sons old neighborhood one night and one was his roommates.
These are not cheap to replace.

The guys that do this are drug addicts.

They also like to steal copper wire and pipes.

This got so bad that laws (or policies) were made that restricted metal scrap companies from buying these items from just anybody.

After the new restrictions the thefts went way down.

Maybe this policy could work here.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by primaltech

Gee, I wonder if that has to do with increased economic hardship from the pandemic.

Normal people who lost their job don't suddenly become thieves (criminals). These are people who have been doing this for a long time.

[rjshae]

Leaving the police exhausted...

Sorry, not really funny.

[rkcarguy]

I was reading an article that highlighted crime per capita in cities over 20,000 people. The typically crime rate per 100,000 was anywhere from 1,600 to 5,000, with high crime places like LA and NY in the 7,500-8,500 range. Then, coming in at 16,950 per 100,000, was Tukwila, WA.
Converters can be pretty quick and easy to remove with hand tools, and pull a quick $30-$200 at the recycler depending on make/model and the amount of valuable metal known to be in them.
I think 700 of them stolen is pretty low, considering the numbers of druggies in Sea-troit.

[tommy64]

https://www.amazon.com/Cat-Security-.../dp/B087D8ZSV8

Problem solved.

[Scrat335]

I frequent Bellevue Napa on 140th ave to buy filters. They can't keep these in stock. The thieves target certain vehicles the worst hit are Toyota Prius because the CC is easy to get to and after that Hyundai. I guess they can cut one out of a car in seconds.

Just to make things even worse there's mice too. They're chewing the wires of a lot more cars this winter. I saw a late model BMW stripped to its body inside and out because mice got into it. They found 7 places throughout the cars wiring that had been gnawed. They said there was a rash this year.