Catalytic converters, copper hot items with St. Albert thieves

A pile of copper wire and catalytic converter thefts in St. Albert since December have RCMP warning drivers to take precautions.

RCMP say they see thefts of copper wire and catalytic converters — which contain platinum, rhodium and palladium — rise along with commodity prices for precious metals. The cost to replace a catalytic converter is roughly $2,000.

Trucks and SUVs that sit high off the ground are more at risk, say RCMP, because it’s easier for criminals to get underneath them and rip out the converters.

RCMP urge motorists to park inside or in well lit, populated areas to avoid becoming a target.

Recent cases in St. Albert include:

Overnight between Dec. 31 and ■

Jan. 1, a catalytic converter was stolen from a work truck parked at a business.

On Jan. 4, a catalytic converter

■ was stolen from a truck parked at a business.

On Jan. 28, copper cable was

■ stolen from the back of a welding truck parked in a residential area.

On Feb. 6, $5,000 worth of copper

■ tubing was stolen from a construction business.

On Feb. 18, a roll of copper wire

■

was swiped from a business yard.

Between April 4-5, copper wire

■

was stolen from a construction site.

Between April 6-7, a catalytic

■ converter was stolen from a Salvation Army van.

On April 16, a catalytic converter ■ was stolen from a truck.