Concern rises over catalytic converter thefts in Santa Cruz County
APTOS, Calif. (KION) Concern is growing among locals over the rising number of catalytic converter thefts.
Santa Cruz Police said there have been 39 thefts. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office reports 15 have happened in unincorporated areas.
Jacqueline Vickers had a catalytic converter stolen from her Prius within the last month on Coates Drive in Aptos.
“I shouldn’t be surprised but I am," Vickers said. "I’ve parked by a house with a large dog. There’s a motion light so many people walk up and down this street walking their dogs.”
Thankfully, her insurance will cover some of the cost, but area auto shops estimate it could cost anywhere between $1,000-4,000 to replace.
“I’d rather pay 200 dollars for some kind of deterrent and not just an alarm, a lock if they have it,” Vickers said.
A lock or cage is just one way to make it more difficult for thieves, but Branciforte Auto Repair in Aptos shared a few other pieces of advice with us.
The auto shop’s co-owner said it’s pretty tough to keep away determined thieves so the best thing you can do is make it more difficult for your car to become a target. Try parking in a well lit area. Or try backing your vehicle into a driveway or garage.
You could also calibrate an alarm to go off when it detects vibration, have bolts welded shut, or etch your car's license plate number on the converter in several locations.
The sheriff's office said it's difficult to catch catalytic converter thieves because they swipe the parts in just a few minutes. They said the best thing to do is, if you hear or see something in your neighborhood, report it immediately to their non-emergency dispatch number: (831) 471-1121.
“We know that they’re selling them for the metals inside to get money but we’re looking at all angles as to who’s doing it, where they’re taking them and what we can do to prevent this in the future,” Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office PIO Ashley Keehn said.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office found thousands of catalytic converters in Elk Grove Tuesday.
It’s still early in the investigation but local authorities are working to see if the thefts here are connected.
The California Air Resources Board told KION it’s not legal to resell used catalytic converters in California so thieves are likely being melted down or used for illicit repairs.
The sheriff’s office is asking the public to report suspicious activity to their non emergency number immediately so they can investigate.
