Thieves cashing in
Buyer of catalytic converters says price is at all-time high
GARDINER MINES — A rather precious part of a Gardiner Mines man's business has also become lucrative for thieves.
Peter Arapis, owner of Cape Breton Salvage and Parts Inc. in Gardiner Mines, said they buy old cars and scrap metal but purchasing catalytic converters is a major part of their business.
“The precious metals in them are extremely rare,” he said, adding that is why they are a targeted item for crooks.
The converters include rhodium worth about US$27,000 an ounce right now and platinum, another agent, about US$1,239 an ounce and palladium about US$2,900 an ounce. Arapis said you're looking at netting $300,000 for 500 pieces.
“Prices of the catalytic converters do range but they've been at an all-time high for two years,” he said. “On an average, you are getting $300 a unit. The last time the market was high was in 2008.”
For the past 23 years, Arapis has been purchasing these converters from his 600 clients across Eastern Canada, including scrapyards, garages and dealerships.
“I have a list of every dealership, garage and person I deal with,” he said.
With a rising number of complaints of thefts of these catalytic converters, Arapis realizes a stolen one could squeak through the hole at his business but works hard to deter from that happening.
Most of his customers are repeat customers. When he purchases converters he takes the seller's driver's license and tries to get the VIN number of the vehicle it came off of.
“I tell people not to come with stolen property and I take their driver's license so if it's a theft they're going to get charged,” he said. “If they are showing signs of withdrawal or currently using, I do not buy from them. I tell them I'm not interested in their product.”
Arapis said once a catalytic converter is cut off a car it's garbage and cannot be put back on. It can only be used as scrap metal.
“The precious metals in them are extremely rare.”
Peter Arapis Owner of Cape Breton Salvage and Parts Inc.
MORE THEFTS
The Nova Scotia RCMP is again investigating another complaint of the theft of catalytic converters.
On May 11, members of the Richmond County District RCMP were contacted regarding the theft of catalytic converters that occurred between May 3 and May 4 at a scrap yard on Black River Road in Grande Anse.
The catalytic converters were cut off and stolen from six different vehicles. A saw blade was located near one of the vehicles. RCMP Forensic Identification Services are
assisting with the investigation.
Cpl. Chris Marshall said it's not the converter itself thieves are after as they are only steel.
“It's the precious metals inside the converter the thieves are trying to get at,” he said.
Marshall said the prices for these precious metals fluctuate and as the market goes up, the dealers are buying these at higher prices which brings a spike in the crimes.
“With COVID, it's same with the housing market and everything else going on, the market surge is quite high right now which is driving a little bit of that trend we are seeing."
Marshall said it's a relatively easy process to remove these parts.
“As long as you know what you are doing, and you have a saw or something, it's not a hard process at all,” he said.
People noticing possible suspicious activity are asked to contact RCMP or Cape Breton Regional Police.
To remove one a person would have to crawl under a vehicle about halfway. Catalytic converters are usually located dead centre under the vehicle, on the outside of the exhaust system. A person would either have to cut the bolts off that connect the converter to the rest of the components or saw it off.
The removal affects the exhaust system and the vehicle would not only become extremely noisy but where it helps control harmful gases, would no longer meet environmental standards.
Anyone with information on the recent theft in Grande Anse, or any other ones, is asked to contact the Richmond County District RCMP at 902-535-2002 or Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers toll-free 1-800-222-8477.
The Cape Breton Regional Police Service has also voiced concern in the past over the theft of catalytic converters including a spike in January where 20 different thefts were reported, primarily from commercial properties in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Most have occurred during overnight or hours when the business is closed, from vehicles in commercial parking lots or storage facilities. On Feb. 17, police were called to a report of a theft at 45 Industrial Ave. in Sydney. The complainant advised six catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles overnight.
Police advise the public in order to reduce chances of becoming a victim of these thefts to park vehicles in welllit areas, close to pedestrian or vehicle traffic, and ideally in an area with video surveillance.
Anyone with information on these thefts in the CBRM is asked to contact police at 902-563-5151 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers, 902-562-8477.