Police: Catalytic converter thieves struck Stamford overnight Monday
STAMFORD — Police are investigating a rash of catalytic converter thefts that happened overnight Monday in the SpringdaleGlenbrook area of Stamford.
Capt. Richard Conklin said police responded to 15 separate reports of stolen catalytic converters between Monday night and Tuesday morning.
The thieves targeted large trucks concentrated in the commercial sector of the neighborhood along Hope Street, primarily in the area of Research Drive, Riverbend Drive and Larkin Street, according to Conklin.
“This happens every so often. It means a crew was likely down here and very active,” he said.
Conklin said thieves will raid commercial and industrial sectors like this armed with reciprocating saws, which they use to cut out catalytic converters from underneath large trucks and buses.
“If these commercial trucks are left out in a parking lot and not garaged, they are vulnerable to being hit like this. Anyone with a fleet of trucks is at risk in this type of thing,” Conklin said.
Catalytic converter thefts have been ticking upward thanks to soaring prices for precious metals like platinum, or platinum-like material such as palladium or rhodium, that are used inside the device, which is used to control emissions, Conklin said.
Last year, the price of palladium quintupled to hit a record of $2,875 — up from the $500 an ounce it garnered five years ago, according to the New York Times. Over that same period, rhodium prices have grown over 3,000 percent from about $640 an ounce five years ago to a record $21,900 an ounce this year, roughly 12 times the price of gold, the Times reported in February.
As prices rose, so too did catalytic converter thefts.
And the uptick in thefts is not unique to Stamford.
Police have reported similar trends in Ansonia, Shelton and elsewhere around the state.
In Greenwich, thieves caused lasting damage to Transportation Association of Greenwich after eight of their buses were forcibly relieved of their catalytic converters.
The problem has gotten so bad that some, like New Britain-based DATTCO, are offering cash rewards for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those behind the thefts.
As for Monday night’s rash of thefts, Conklin said Stamford’s Property Crimes Unit is actively investigating the thefts.