Gov. Kathy Hochul Cracks Down On Catalytic Converter Thefts On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY — With a rash of catalytic converter thefts escalating across Long Island, New York State, and the nation, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a new plan Monday to crack down on thieves and scrap metal shops who buy the converters for their rare and valuable materials.

Hochul held a press event in Suffolk County to announce the new measures.

"New York State has experienced a real rise in property crimes, and what is driving that is thefts of catalytic converters," she said. "We want the criminals to know the gig's up. We're coming. We have the resources, the technology, and the will to stop these crimes from happening."

The goal, Hochul said, is to target vehicle dismantlers, or "chop shops," that are buying the catalytic converters in high-theft areas including Long Island, New York City, and lower Hudson Valley.

Hochul signed legislation imposing restrictions on the purchase, sale, and possession of catalytic converters by vehicle dismantlers and scrap processers.

Thefts of catalytic converters increased more than 200 percent in some parts of the state, Hochul said. In Nassau County, there have been more than 1,549 thefts this year compared to 445 last year, a 248 percent increase, Hochul said.

In Suffolk County, there have been 819 cases, up from 289 a year ago. That's a 183 percent increase.

"And the numbers are even more alarming in New York City. They've actually quadrupled in the city compared to a year ago," she said.

The catalytic converters are being stolen from driveways and parking lots, dealerships and auto repair shops, Hochul said.

Catalytic converters, Hochul said, are a piece in the exhaust system that helps to reduce toxic gasses. They're targeted because they contain rare and valuable materials including palladium, rhodium and platinum.

"And as the price of rare metals has increased, so has catalytic converter theft," Hochul said.

Catalytic converters, Hochul said, are very easy to remove, with the process taking about two minutes.

Although the part only has a street value of $200 to $500, replacing the item costs $2,000 to $3,000, she said. New vehicles, she added, have two converters, so both can potentially be stolen at once.

"The hit to our wallet doesn't just stop there," Hochul said. "When they take it out, it also increases the likelihood of damage to the vehicle overall, cutting lines. And that can add up to $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage you have to repair on top of replacing it overall."

The cost is prohibitive, especially as New Yorkers emerge from the pandemic.

"We're announcing a very aggressive, targeted approach that we believe will deter criminals from stealing them," Hochul said.

Looking ahead, chops shops and scrap processors will be required to keep information on anyone that sells them a converter, to track who's selling them and help law enforcement. In addition, dealers will offer new etching kits to provide a traceable serial number onto catalytic converters.

Hochul is also directing state police — the event was held at Troop L in Farmindale — to work with state and local police on the crackdown.

The Department of Motor Vehicles and state police will also be directed to use legislation to trace stolen converters all the way back to those that may be already at illegal dismantlers, Hochul said.

To help facilitate the effort, Hochul said $3.7 million in motor vehicle theft and insurance fraud prevention board funds will be used. Those who take precautionary steps will see their insurance costs decrease.

The Nassau County Police Department will receive $114,000, the Nassau County District Attorney's Office will garner $114,000; Suffolk County Police will receive $123,556, and the Suffolk County DA's Office will see an allocation of $283,000, Hochul said.

Hochul also announced $20 million in new technologies, such as license plate readers and surveillance cameras, to help in the detection, prevention, and prosecution of car and catalytic converter thefts.

"We're going to double down on these efforts because this is a serious problem. No one should have to worry about it. This is an enormous cost for families. You shouldn't have to go to bed at night wanting if someone stealing this valuable commodity out of your own driveway. People deserve to be safe, whether they're in their own home, streets, trains, or subways."