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eST. GEORGE —Thefts of catalytic converters have skyrocketed over the last few years across the Beehive state and the rest of the country.
But Utah is joining several states taking steps to try to deter the thefts of these emissions-control devices that are targeted for the precious metals they contain.
Thefts of the exhaust emission control devices have jumped over the past two years as prices for the precious metals they contain have seen a massive upward shift – prices that do not appear to be leveling out any time soon. And having such a pricey device stolen right out from under them can also leave car owners feeling vulnerable.
A catalytic converter is a portion of a car or truck's exhaust system that works to reduce the output of toxic gases emitted through the vehicle's exhaust using a number of metals that serve as a catalyst in the process, and three of those precious metals include platinum, palladium and rhodium. One of the reasons these metals are used is their ability to withstand high operating temperatures.
One such vehicle owner reached out to St. George News after the catalytic converter in his vehicle was stolen. Gary Price also told St. George News of a recent string of converter thefts that had taken place in St. George where dozens of converters were stolen over the course of 1-2 days, he said, adding that Southern Utah has not escaped the national trend of a spike in such thefts.
Law enforcement in St. George has noticed this uptick, and officers are dealing with a higher number of converter thefts, including a recent incident in which more than 30 converters that were removed from several recreational vehicles, as well as from numerous vehicles on one business property. The details of these incidents are limited since the investigation into the string of thefts is still open and ongoing, St. George Police Sgt. Zach Bahlmann told St. George News during an interview on Wednesday.
Read the full article at St. George News.
KSL's Southern Utah News Section
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