Fresno-area catalytic converter thefts are skyrocketing, police say. Here are the numbers
The theft of catalytic converters in Fresno County has spiked from last year, including an explosion of 10 times as many reports in Fresno, according to local law enforcement.
Police in Fresno, Clovis and the unincorporated parts of the county said they have seen a significant increase in the thefts of the car part, which contains rare metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and can cost hundreds of dollars.
Fresno has seen reports of 1,225 stolen catalytic converters this year through Oct. 18 compared to 122 reports from all of 2020, according to Sgt. Diana Trueba Vega of the Fresno Police Department.
“Why the increase now? We don’t know,” she said. “We don’t know how many were unreported previously, (but) the reported numbers have definitely skyrocketed.”
Clovis residents have reported 185 cases through Oct. 19, which is about six times more than last year’s 30, according to Clovis police. The unincorporated areas of Fresno County grew from 37 reports last year to 175 so far this year, an increase of nearly five times, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s the latest and greatest crime of opportunity,” Clovis Lt. Jim Munro said.
While the crime is not new, police in Southern California have also seen explosions in the number of reported thefts of the valuable car part.
Thieves take the catalytic converter because it’s relatively quick to steal and the metals inside can be sold to a middleman and then a metal recycling center, according to police.
Fresno is a target of the lower level of the crime, according to Tony Botti, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. He said the parts are sold to a middleman and eventually taken out of the area to a recycler who can make even more on the metals inside.
There was a time a few years ago when deputies could arrest a few repeat offenders of catalytic converter theft and the thefts would die down, Botti said.
But the crime has become more common. Some gangs have been known to use it as a way to make money, he said.
“It’s just become one of those trendy crimes,” he said. “It was a specialized crime.”
Import vs. domestic
Imports cars like Honda and Toyota models tend to be more popular than domestic cars like Chevrolet and GM models, according to police. That’s because the imports’ catalytic converters are worth more to the thieves, according to Givan Bznuni, owner of All Access Automotive in Fresno.
Selling the Prius part brings in about $400 for the thief while the Chevy one may be worth as little as $150, he said. He said his shop does automotive repair of any kind, but catalytic converter work has seen a tremendous spike.
“Some people get it multiple times,” he said. “They’ll get it cut and repaired, and then a couple weeks later they’ll get hit again.”
The victim in the crime is in store for a big price tag, he said, with the cost of repairs at $2,000 or more. When the thief steals the converter, Bznuni said, they often don’t need a car jack — just a cordless saw. While cutting the catalytic converter, the thief can damage wires, the oxygen censor and other parts, he said.
What can you do to prevent it?
Local law enforcement said they have teamed with Midas automotive service locations in Fresno and Clovis to etch a license plate number on a car’s catalytic converter for free, assuming no work needs to be done to get to it.
Adding a distinguishing mark allows police to recognize it as stolen if it’s ever found in a thief’s possession. Police in Fresno and Clovis also said they have routine patrols for officers specifically looking for thieves during times deemed the most likely to see stolen car parts.
There are also some ways to add a metal shield or security measures to slow down, but not stop, a thief, according to police. Bznuni said the measures will make stealing a converter into about a 15 to 20 minute effort, which is about three or four times longer than an unprotected part.
Police say anything that could slow a thief down is worth trying because they may choose to move onto another target. Bznuni said he agrees.
“It doesn’t seem like it’s letting down soon,” Bznuni said. “They’re not close to figuring it out.”
For more on the program to etch converters, call the local Midas store, Fresno’s Trueba Vega at 559-621-2751, or Clovis police at 559-324-2800.
Tips to protect your car
Here are some tips from the Sheriff’s Office:
- Park in a garage if possible. Thieves target vehicles parked in driveways and on streets.
- Use a tool to engrave your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) onto your catalytic converter. Then take a photo of it.
- Make a report to law enforcement if you see anyone attempting to sell these parts, whether online or at a business.
- Always be skeptical of low prices.
- If you purchase a catalytic converter at a shop, ask the employee to see the part before installing it on your vehicle. The part should be new.
- Calibrate your car’s alarm to set off when it detects vibration.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
