Catalytic converter thieves target 9 vehicles in 4 days

Catalytic converter thieves in Rome targeted nine vehicles in just four days — including trucks on North Broad Street and two ambulances.

Since early October, catalytic converters have been coming up missing from vehicles in the city, especially from larger vehicles.

According to Rome Police Department incident reports, converters were stolen out of seven trucks at Flowers Bakery Store and two ambulances, also on North Broad Street, between March 1 and March 4.

Thieves extract the palladium, rhodium and platinum from the catalytic converters, which are used to filter and clean up auto emissions. Because they contain those metals, catalytic converters can be worth hundreds of dollars when sold to scrap dealers and recyclers, and each one costs up to $1,500 to replace.

Stricter car emissions rules have contributed to the rise in thefts. With the push to get air pollution under control, the demand for catalytic converters is up — and that, in turn, pushed the prices of these metals to all time highs.

The elevated prices have fueled a black market in stolen catalytic converters, which can be sawed off of a car in minutes and then sold.

In Georgia, scrap yards are legally required to report any suspicious items they receive, but that’s not always where the stolen parts turn up.

States around the country — including Alabama, Florida and Tennessee — have reported thefts of the part from larger vehicles.

Anyone with information regarding catalytic converter thefts within the city limits, call 706-238-5111, send in videos, or leave anonymous tips on Romefloyd.com.