Phoenix cops find 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

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

The invention adopted a months-long investigation that began with a January tip that somebody was storing stolen catalytic converters in an industrial area near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We had been very stunned at the amount in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier mentioned 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 selling the convertors was charged with 40 counts of theft and may face additional charges.

The huge rise in catalytic converters thefts across the nation has hit tens of thousands of car and truck homeowners in the pocketbook and pissed off police, who are confronted with a crime that takes simply minutes to commit and is tough to unravel even when they discover the stolen parts.

Catalytic converters will not be imprinted at the factory with serial numbers and stolen converters end up on a black market where they're chopped open for the precious metals they contain.

Replacing one can value a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, in response to the National 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 studies of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, greater than 17,000 in 2020 and greater than 52,000 final 12 months.

Lawmakers throughout the nation have taken notice, introducing legislation designed to make it harder for criminals to unload their loot. According to the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, 150 payments 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 invoice this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in many situations against the law and adds detailed reporting requirements for scrap dealers that purchase reputable used devices. They have to mark the merchandise with the donor automobile's serial number and retain it for a minimum of per week in authentic condition.

Scrap dealers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 high quality for the primary offense, a $2,000 tremendous for a second and at the least double that for each extra time they're caught. Those possessing or making an attempt to sell a used catalytic converter that do not meet new requirements could face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal legislation is also within the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a bill backed by the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau that may require serial numbers on new units, provide grants for programs to stamp numbers on present vehicles and vehicles and make it easier to prosecute thefts.

The insurance group's President and CEO David Glawe known as it a essential step in serving to bring aid to individuals instantly impacted by the thefts.

Insurance usually does not cover a automotive proprietor's losses. Somebody carrying just liability coverage or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the total bill. Even with comprehensive protection, there's a deductible that could be excessive sufficient that it isn't value submitting a declare.

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