Thefts of Catalytic Converters At Branford Train Station Rise

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

BRANFORD, CT – The police department is dealing with a recent string of thefts of catalytic converters from motor vehicles at the Shore Line East train station.

“We’ve had a rash of catalytic converters stolen from the train station,” Police Chief Kevin Halloran said.

Halloran said it is the metal in the converters that the thieves are after. He said the metal is re-sold, and is very valuable.

He also said the thieves are skilled at what they’re doing.

“They have battery operated saws. They make two cuts and its cut in a minute or two,” said Halloran.

The chief said the police department has stepped up patrols around the train station to try and combat the thieves.

The reason the catalytic converters are being stolen is they contain valuable platinum, rhodium and palladium.

The metals are expensive, and thieves sell the converters to scrap yards for $150 to $200 per piece, depending on the size of the converter and the current rate on the metals inside it.

It costs you up to $2,000 to replace a catalytic converter, and it is illegal to drive your car without one. The resulting gap in your exhaust system also makes the car run poorly until it is fixed.

To prevent theft, always park in well-lit areas when possible. If you have a personal garage, keep your car in the garage with the door closed when the vehicle is not in use.

Park close to a building entrance or to the nearest access road when parking in a public lot. This is due to the increased amount of pedestrian traffic in those areas.

Security devices are available that attach to the converter, making it harder to steal. Having the converter welded to the car frame also makes it more difficult to remove. If you have a security system on your car, calibrate it so vibration sets it off. This ensures the alarm activates if a thief tries to saw off the converter.

Engrave your VIN number onto your catalytic converter to make it easier to identify in case it does get stolen.

Photo credit: Jack Kramer