Phoenix cops discover 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was facing multiple theft charges Friday after detectives found more than 1,200 catalytic converters packed into a storage unit, a case that highlights a national surge in thefts of the expensive auto elements that play a important role in reducing vehicle emissions.

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

“We were very stunned at the amount in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier mentioned in a police video taken Thursday as officers were 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 should face additional fees.

The large rise in catalytic converters thefts throughout the nation has hit tens of hundreds of automotive and truck homeowners in the pocketbook and frustrated police, who are confronted with against the law that takes simply minutes to commit and is troublesome to resolve even when they find the stolen elements.

Catalytic converters aren't imprinted on the manufacturing facility with serial numbers and stolen converters find yourself on a black market the place they are chopped open for the precious metals they contain.

Changing one can cost a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, in response to the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, an insurance industry group that works to fight insurance fraud and crime. Police say thieves can get from $100 to $150 for every converter.

The insurance group counted simply 3,969 experiences of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, more than 17,000 in 2020 and more than 52,000 last 12 months.

Lawmakers across the nation have taken notice, introducing laws designed to make it more durable for criminals to unload their loot. In line with the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, 150 bills have been introduced this yr 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 many situations a crime and adds detailed reporting requirements for scrap sellers that buy legitimate used units. They have to mark the merchandise with the donor vehicle's serial quantity and retain it for at the least a week in original situation.

Scrap dealers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 high quality for the primary offense, a $2,000 wonderful for a second and at least double that for every extra time they are caught. These possessing or making an attempt to sell a used catalytic converter that don't meet new requirements might face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal legislation is also in the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a invoice backed by the Nationwide Insurance Crime Bureau that may require serial numbers on new gadgets, provide grants for programs to stamp numbers on current vehicles and vans and make it simpler to prosecute thefts.

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

Insurance often doesn't cover a car proprietor's losses. Someone carrying simply liability protection or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the complete bill. Even with complete protection, there's a deductible that could be excessive enough that it is not worth submitting a declare.

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