Phoenix cops find 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was facing a number of theft charges Friday after detectives discovered greater than 1,200 catalytic converters packed into a storage unit, a case that highlights a nationwide surge in thefts of the expensive auto components that play a crucial position in decreasing car emissions.

The discovery adopted a months-long investigation that started with a January tip that someone was storing stolen catalytic converters in an industrial space near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We have been very stunned at the amount in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier said in a police video taken Thursday as officers have 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 will face further prices.

The massive rise in catalytic converters thefts across the nation has hit tens of 1000's of automotive and truck owners in the pocketbook and annoyed police, who're confronted with a crime that takes just minutes to commit and is difficult to resolve even when they discover the stolen components.

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

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

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

Lawmakers throughout the nation have taken discover, introducing legislation designed to make it more durable for criminals to unload their loot. In keeping with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 150 bills have been launched this 12 months in 36 states and enacted in 16 states.

That includes Arizona, the place Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in many instances against the law and adds detailed reporting requirements for scrap dealers that buy official used units. They must mark the item with the donor automobile's serial quantity and retain it for at least per week in original situation.

Scrap sellers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 nice for the first offense, a $2,000 high-quality for a second and at the very least double that for each extra time they are caught. These possessing or making an attempt to promote a used catalytic converter that do not meet new requirements could face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal laws can also be in the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a bill backed by the Nationwide Insurance Crime Bureau that may require serial numbers on new gadgets, offer grants for programs to stamp numbers on existing automobiles and vehicles and make it easier to prosecute thefts.

The insurance group's President and CEO David Glawe referred to as it a important step in serving to deliver relief to folks straight impacted by the thefts.

Insurance coverage usually doesn't cowl a car owner's losses. Somebody carrying just legal responsibility protection or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the complete bill. Even with comprehensive coverage, there is a deductible that may be high sufficient that it's not value submitting a declare.

“Lastly, some victims even with coverage could treat the problem as a mechanical concern and just pay for it themselves and never notify their insurer,” insurance coverage crime bureau spokesperson Tully Lehman mentioned Friday.