Phoenix cops discover 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was dealing with multiple theft fees Friday after detectives discovered 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 components that play a essential position in reducing automobile emissions.

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

“We were very stunned at the quantity in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier stated 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 selling the convertors was charged with 40 counts of theft and should face extra expenses.

The huge rise in catalytic converters thefts across the nation has hit tens of hundreds of automobile and truck owners in the pocketbook and pissed off police, who are confronted with against the law that takes just minutes to commit and is tough to resolve even if they find the stolen components.

Catalytic converters will not be imprinted at the manufacturing facility with serial numbers and stolen converters end up on a black market where they are chopped open for the precious metals they comprise.

Replacing one can value a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, in response to the National Insurance 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 simply 3,969 reports of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, greater than 17,000 in 2020 and greater than 52,000 final year.

Lawmakers throughout the nation have taken notice, introducing laws designed to make it more durable for criminals to unload their loot. Based on the National Insurance Crime Bureau, 150 bills have been introduced 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 lots of cases a crime and adds detailed reporting requirements for scrap dealers that purchase official used gadgets. They have to mark the item with the donor car's serial number and retain it for at the very least per week in original situation.

Scrap sellers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 wonderful for the first offense, a $2,000 fantastic for a second and at the very least double that for every additional time they are caught. These possessing or trying to promote a used catalytic converter that don't 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 existing cars and vehicles and make it easier to prosecute thefts.

The insurance group's President and CEO David Glawe called it a essential step in serving to convey relief to folks directly impacted by the thefts.

Insurance coverage often does not cowl a automobile proprietor's losses. Someone carrying just liability coverage or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the full bill. Even with complete coverage, there is a deductible that could be high sufficient that it's not price filing a claim.

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