Phoenix cops find 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was dealing with a number of theft charges Friday after detectives found more than 1,200 catalytic converters packed right into a storage unit, a case that highlights a nationwide surge in thefts of the pricy auto parts that play a important role in lowering car emissions.

The discovery followed a months-long investigation that began with a January tip that somebody was storing stolen catalytic converters in an industrial area close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We had been very stunned on the quantity in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier stated in a police video taken Thursday as officers had been pulling converters from the jam-packed storage locker.

The 48-year-old man who police say was buying and promoting the convertors was charged with 40 counts of theft and may face extra charges.

The massive rise in catalytic converters thefts across the nation has hit tens of 1000's of automobile and truck house owners within the pocketbook and annoyed police, who are faced with a crime that takes simply minutes to commit and is difficult to resolve even when they find the stolen parts.

Catalytic converters usually are not imprinted at the manufacturing facility with serial numbers and stolen converters end up on a black market the place they're chopped open for the dear metals they contain.

Replacing one can price a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, based on the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, an insurance coverage trade group that works to combat insurance fraud and crime. Police say thieves can get from $100 to $150 for every converter.

The insurance coverage group counted just 3,969 reports of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, greater than 17,000 in 2020 and more than 52,000 final yr.

Lawmakers throughout the nation have taken discover, introducing laws designed to make it tougher for criminals to unload their loot. In accordance with the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, 150 bills have been introduced this 12 months in 36 states and enacted in 16 states.

That features Arizona, the place Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a invoice this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in lots of cases against the law and provides detailed reporting necessities for scrap dealers that purchase professional used units. They need to mark the item with the donor vehicle's serial quantity and retain it for a minimum of a week in unique situation.

Scrap sellers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 superb for the primary offense, a $2,000 high quality for a second and at least double that for every further time they're caught. These possessing or trying to promote a used catalytic converter that don't meet new requirements may face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal laws is also in the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a bill backed by the National Insurance Crime Bureau that might require serial numbers on new units, supply grants for programs to stamp numbers on current vehicles and vehicles and make it easier to prosecute thefts.

The insurance coverage group's President and CEO David Glawe known as it a crucial step in helping convey relief to people immediately impacted by the thefts.

Insurance coverage often does not cover a automotive owner's losses. Somebody carrying just legal responsibility coverage or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the complete bill. Even with comprehensive coverage, there is a deductible that could be excessive enough that it isn't price filing a declare.

“Lastly, some victims even with protection could treat the issue as a mechanical subject and just pay for it themselves and by no means notify their insurer,” insurance coverage crime bureau spokesperson Tully Lehman stated Friday.