Tinley Animal Shelter's Transport Van Stripped Of Catalytic Converter

TINLEY PARK, IL — Staff at P.A.W.S. Tinley Park Animal Shelter found they had fallen victim to common crime earlier this week, when they discovered the catalytic converter had been removed from the shelter's transport van.

The theft was noticed Aug. 15 when the shelter's driver went to start the van to take shelter animals to the vet, and it made a loud noise, staff wrote on the shelter's Facebook page. They then learned the converter had been stripped from the van.

The shelter, located at 8301 W 191st St. in Tinley Park, uses the van to transport its animals to the vet, and to pick up animals for rescue.

"It’s sad that even a charity is the target of crime in today’s world," the shelter wrote on Facebook.

When they took the van to be fixed, they learned other repairs would be needed, with a bill of $5,800.

"We have no choice but to fix our van ASAP because it is much needed," the staff wrote. "... We were not expecting this major bill right now."

They have started a Facebook fundraising effort to help offset the cost.