Make Catalytic Converter Theft A More Serious Crime: Monmouth Lawmaker

EATONTOWN, NJ — Catalytic converter thefts have exploded in recent years in New Jersey, and this winter Assemblywoman Kim Eulner, who represents this area of Monmouth County, introduced legislation that would stiffen penalties for the crime.

Eulner, a Republican, introduced this bill that would now make it a second- and third-degree crime to steal a catalytic converter.

Typically, second- and third-degree offenses carry fines of up to $150,000 and $15,000 respectively. Jail times may be set at the discretion of the judge and prosecutor.

“My constituents in particular have been ravaged by such thefts. These brazen offenders, often repeat offenders, feel no fear as the law stands now,” said Eulner. “Let’s increase penalties to decrease these crimes.”

Eulner represents the following Monmouth County towns: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury, Tinton Falls and West Long Branch.

Just this past November, the FBI busted a major catalytic converter ring that had a location in Freehold, and the owner of which live in Holmdel. The website of DG Auto Parts LLC says it is the "leading buyer" of catalytic converters in New Jersey. Federal prosecutors say this Freehold-based business trafficked converters from California, and extracted and sold the precious metals to the tune of $545 million.

According to the FBI, those accused in the DG Auto case bought stolen catalytic converters from thieves on the street, then re-sold and shipped them to DG Auto in Freehold for processing.

"In all these incidents, most of the catalytic converters sold to DG Auto were stolen, and DG Auto knew or should have known that when they paid for them," said the U.S. Department of Justice in this press release on the case.

Federal agents also seized more than 200 pallets of converters in Monmouth and Burlington counties from the same investigation. In all, 21 individuals were arrested across five states.

The 13 defendants in the DG Auto case are Navin Khanna, 39, of Holmdel, New Jersey; Adam Sharkey, 26, of West Islip, New York; Robert Gary Sharkey, 57, of Babylon, New York; Tyler James Curtis, 26, of Wagoner, Oklahoma; Benjamin Robert Mansour, 24, of Bixby, Oklahoma; Reiss Nicole Biby, 24, of Wagoner, Oklahoma; Martynas Macerauskas, 28, of Leila Lake, Texas; Kristina McKay Macerauskas, 21, of Leila Lake, Texas; Parker Star Weavel, 25, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Shane Allen Minnick, 26, of Haskell, Oklahoma; Ryan David LaRue 29, of Broken Bow, Oklahoma; Brian Pate Thomas, 25, of Choteau, Oklahoma; and Michael Anthony Rhoden, 26, of Keifer, Oklahoma.

“That bust last November was huge," said Eulner this week. "Locally, dozens of men and women, often from out of the area, are arrested for catalytic converter thefts every month. Let’s face it, those are just the thieves who get caught. Clearly the payoff is worth the risk of getting caught. We need tougher penalties to deter would-be criminals.”

Catalytic converter thefts are up because precious metal prices have risen exponentially, according to law enforcement.

Catalytic converters are made out of precious platinum metals: Palladium, rhodium and platinum. Those metals sell for thousands of dollars per ounce; the typical converter possesses 2-7 grams of palladium, 3-7 grams of platinum and 1-2 grams of rhodium.

Each are highly resistant to corrosion and reduce the amount of harmful exhaust emitted into the atmosphere as part of the converter. The value of those metals coupled with the ease in which catalytic converters can be removed from vehicles make them an attractive target for thieves.

Depending on the vehicle — Ford F-Series and Honda Accords are among the most targeted nationwide — thieves can sell the parts for $500 each to recyclers, who then extract the metals and sell those powders. All three metals are also used in dentistry as well as jewelry and musical instruments.

Original Patch report on the DG Auto case: Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Busted; Holmdel Man Charged (Nov. 2022)