Catalytic Converters Swiped From Cars At Br. Rice, Mother McAuley

CHICAGO, IL - Chicago police are alerting residents to a recent trend of catalytic converter thefts. In recent days, multiple incidents have been reported from the parking lots at Mother McAuley and Brother Rice high schools.

A Chicago police officer said during a CAPS Beat 2213 meeting Thursday night that at least three catalytic converters were stolen earlier that day from the parking lot at Brother Rice High School.

Indications were made during the meeting that a similar theft spree took place a few days earlier in the parking lot of Mother McAuley High School. It wasn't immediately clear which day the thefts occurred at Mother McAuley.

The Chicago Police Department District 22's Twitter account indicated Friday morning that the suspect vehicle in the thefts is a dark blue, four-door 2012 Hyundai Sonata with a license plate #844035. The car has been reported stolen from Chicago, according to police. Call 911 if you see it in the neighborhood.

It was used in both the catalytic converter thefts at Brother Rice and Mother McAuley as well as other thefts in bordering Evergreen Park, according to police.

Vehicle involved in theft of catalytic converters - 2012 Hyundai Sonata dark blue 4 door sedan IL license plate #844035 - stolen vehicle from Chicago. Used in catalytic converter thefts in Evergreen Park, Brother Rice & Mother McCauley High Schools. Call 911 if located. pic.twitter.com/Ar77Mr31ai
— 22nd District - Morgan Park (@ChicagoCAPS22) May 11, 2018

It was also mentioned during the Thursday night CAPS meeting at Ridge Park that catalytic converter thefts may have also occurred at Marist High School in recent days, but school spokeswoman Patti Arvesen told Patch there have not been any reports made regarding anything stolen from the Marist parking lot.

Police did inform the school of the incidents at Brother Rice and Mother McAuley, however.

"Our security team has been informed and is patrolling the lot frequently," Arvesen said.

Police provided tips to residents who attended Thursday's meeting on how to prevent becoming a victim of a catalytic converter theft.

Tips included parking in well-lit areas, engraving your license plate number on the converter to make it traceable, having a muffler shop secure the converter to the vehicle's frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel, purchasing a vehicle security system and others.

Stolen catalytic converters are often sold to scrap yards for $100 or more and can be an expense of up to $1,000 for the victim.

Image via Skokie Police Department