Vancouver police are warning eastside and southeast-side residents about a wave of catalytic converter thefts that have hit the city over the past two months.
According to the news release, 41 thefts have been reported in an area bordered by Ontario Street and Fraser Street to the west, Marine Drive to the south, Boundary Road to the east, and 1st Avenue to the north. Twenty-three thefts were reported in June, with 18 more reported so far in July.
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Sgt. Adam Donaldson said the thefts typically happen between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., with thieves using angle grinders or portable saws to remove converters in about a minute.
According to the news release, catalytic converters contain precious metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, with rhodium alone worth more than $9,000 per gram in Canada. Once removed, the converters are generally sold to scrap metal dealers. Victims are left facing a costly insurance deductible and the inconvenience of getting their vehicles repaired.
The most commonly targeted vehicles are SUVs and other models with high ground clearance, including the Toyota Highlander, Toyota 4Runner, Lexus RX330 and RX350, Hyundai Tucson, and Hyundai Santa Fe.
Police are recommending drivers park in well-lit areas and take additional precautions, including parking against a wall or obstruction to block access to the underside of the vehicle, parking indoors where possible, installing a catalytic converter cover or shield, using a vehicle alarm with a motion or vibration sensor, and setting up motion-sensitive cameras near where the vehicle is parked.
Anyone who witnesses a catalytic converter theft is asked to call 911 immediately, and anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact Vancouver police.
