Seven Catalytic Converters Cut Out Of Livingston Vehicles In 1 Night

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Seven catalytic converters were cut out of parked vehicles at different Livingston sites in the early morning hours of Thursday, Feb. 16, police said.

The car parts were stolen at four locations.

Police listed these thefts:

• Mount Pleasant Exxon, East Mt. Pleasant Avenue: Two vehicles affected.
• Fusion Tech, Dorsa Avenue: Three vehicles.
• Livingston Collision, West Mount Pleasant Avenue: One vehicle.
• The Lock Up, Eisenhower Parkway: One vehicle.

The Livingston Detective Bureau is investigating.

Value Of The Part

Experts say that the price of the metals in the converters has been rising, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Recycling facilities will pay for the converters.

Thieves can cut them out of the bottom of vehicles in a matter of minutes, particularly larger vehicles that are easy to crawl under, even including school buses, experts say.

In May 2022, four men were charged by the Justice Department in a scheme to steal the car part from vehicles in New Jersey, bringing them back to New York across the George Washington Bridge. Officials said the men had stolen 15 catalytic converters already that year.

What Should You Do?

Experts say that etching your car's vehicle identification number into the converter will make it easier to trace, if stolen. Find other tips here.

Read about other catalytic converter thefts in Livingston here.