Phoenix cops discover 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

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

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

“We have been very surprised on the amount 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 shopping for and promoting the convertors was charged with 40 counts of theft and may face further expenses.

The large rise in catalytic converters thefts throughout the nation has hit tens of thousands of automobile and truck house owners within the pocketbook and pissed off police, who're faced with against the law that takes simply minutes to commit and is troublesome to resolve even if they discover the stolen components.

Catalytic converters should not imprinted on the manufacturing facility with serial numbers and stolen converters find yourself on a black market where they're chopped open for the dear metals they contain.

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

The insurance group counted just 3,969 reports of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, more than 17,000 in 2020 and more than 52,000 final 12 months.

Lawmakers throughout the nation have taken notice, introducing laws designed to make it harder for criminals to unload their loot. In line with the Nationwide Insurance Crime Bureau, 150 payments have been introduced this yr in 36 states and enacted in 16 states.

That features Arizona, the place Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in many cases a criminal offense and adds detailed reporting necessities for scrap dealers that purchase legit used devices. They have to mark the merchandise with the donor car's serial number and retain it for at the least per week in authentic condition.

Scrap dealers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 wonderful for the first offense, a $2,000 positive for a second and at the very least double that for every extra time they are caught. Those possessing or attempting to sell a used catalytic converter that don't meet new necessities might face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal legislation can also be in the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a invoice backed by the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau that would require serial numbers on new gadgets, offer grants for programs to stamp numbers on present vehicles and trucks and make it easier to prosecute thefts.

The insurance group's President and CEO David Glawe called it a essential step in serving to convey reduction to individuals directly impacted by the thefts.

Insurance coverage often does not cowl a automobile owner's losses. Somebody carrying simply liability coverage or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the complete invoice. Even with comprehensive protection, there's a deductible which may be high enough that it isn't worth filing a claim.

“Lastly, some victims even with coverage might deal with the problem as a mechanical subject and just pay for it themselves and by no means notify their insurer,” insurance crime bureau spokesperson Tully Lehman mentioned Friday.