Catalytic converter thieves using new trick to dupe drivers


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WOODS CROSS — Utah mechanics are warning car owners about a new tool catalytic converter thieves are using to cover up their work.

Like many Utahns, Marc Paxton relies on public transportation to get to his job in the city. He drives to and from his neighborhood Frontrunner station, but Wednesday evening he didn’t make it very far.

“I got in my car and I went to start it and it just made this super loud noise,” he said. “My daughter said it sounded like a race car.”

After calling his wife to come pick him up and calling a tow truck, Paxton discovered the problem.

“We looked under the car and there was a piece of metal sheeting that had temporarily been taped to the bottom of my car,” Paxton said.

Dustin Bishop has been working at Ray’s Muffler in Bountiful for 15 years.

“This is the very first time we’ve seen this,” he said.

It only takes a thief less than a minute to saw off a catalytic converter, a device that makes pollutants from exhaust gas less toxic. With precious metals like platinum inside, it makes the part a prime target.

“The scrap value is worth $65 to $150,” Bishop said.

The new trick to dupe drivers is concerning, since it makes it difficult for victims to pinpoint where the converter was stolen.

“This is new,” he said. “Put this up there, guy comes off of Fruntrunner, jumps in his vehicle, takes off and makes numerous stops and he doesn’t know where it’s been stolen.”

A catalytic converter repair costs about $450. Bishop said he sees repairs like this one at least once a week. UTA police reported three converter thefts at the Woods Cross Frontrunner station in the last two days.

Officers planned to step up patrols in the area.

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Nicole Vowell

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