Catalytic Converter Thief Strikes In Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Theft of items stored inside cars is common in both big cities and small towns, whether it's thieves checking for unlocked car doors or breaking car windows to gain entry. The theft of items attached to cars is less common but is nonetheless an issue that attracts the attention of police departments across the nation.

Theft of catalytic converters, for example, has been an issue for years. They are often stolen for their precious metals, which are a hot item on the black market. Catalytic converters, which turn harmful chemicals in vehicle exhausts into harmless gases such as steam, from Toyota Priuses are particularly popular because they are made of high-quality metals.

In bigger cities, police will receive reports of more than a dozen thefts of catalytic converters in a week. In small cities like Fredericksburg, catalytic converter theft doesn't happen as often but is still an issue the police department keeps an eye on.

On Wednesday, a resident reported the catalytic converter on her Kia parked in the 200 block of Prince Edward Street had been stolen, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department's latest crime report. The theft was reported at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday afternoon

"Thefts of catalytic converters come in waves," Fredericksburg Police Department spokeswoman Sarah Kirkpatrick said in an email to Patch. "We see more thefts of items left inside vehicles than catalytic converters."

The police department has issued alerts in the past when there have been several catalytic converters stolen in a short period of time, but it has been a few years since the department received a wave of reports, she said.

How can you recognize if your catalytic converter has been stolen? If you start your car and hear a loud rumbling sound, you may have been a victim of catalytic converter theft. Such theft is no laughing matter. The catalytic converters for hybrids like Priuses are more expensive than other cars, costing anywhere between $2,500 and $3,000 to replace.