Garvin County has seen a spike in catalytic converter thefts recently, mirroring a trend that has been occurring across the nation for the last two years.
“It’s a problem, and it’s a big problem across the country and around the state. It’s not just us,” Garvin County Sheriff Jim Mullett said.
In the last six to eight months catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles at local car dealerships, auto repair shops, school districts, churches and private residences in communities across the county.
“They’re working in groups, and they’re organized,” Mullett said.
Some of the crimes have been caught on security cameras, though none have been clear enough to positively identify the perpetrators, Mullett said. The footage has established a pattern, though. In at least some of the cases, Mullet said, a vehicle can be seen dropping someone off and then the driver circles around and watches the area, while the other person slides under the targeted vehicle and cuts the catalytic converter off.
“When he’s done, they drive around, they load up and they’re gone. I mean it’s within minutes,” Mullet said.
Catalytic converters are found on all vehicles made after 1975 and are a part of the vehicle’s exhaust and emissions system. The theft of catalytic converters nationally increased from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020, due in part to a significant rise in the price of precious metals like rhodium, platinum and palladium, all of which are used in the fabrication of catalytic converters.
The parts can be removed quickly and have no identifying markings to tie them to a specific vehicle, making them extremely hard to track and therefore more attractive to thieves looking to sell the stolen parts on the black market.
The cost of replacing a stolen catalytic converter can range from several hundred dollars to over $1,000, depending on the type of vehicle. Replacing a stolen catalytic converter can also take weeks as replacement parts are ordered and other damage that may have been caused by the theft is repaired, causing added inconvenience to vehicle owners.
Elmore City and Pauls Valley Police Departments confirm they are working on active cases involving catalytic converter thefts, with Pauls Valley’s most recent case occurring over the weekend. One of Pauls Valley’s cases is being handled in conjunction with Chickasaw Nation Light Horse Police, and the Sheriff’s Office is also working on cases in cooperation with area municipalities.
“I think we have identified a couple of good suspects here in Garvin County,” Mullett said, but added he thinks some of the local thefts may have been perpetrated by thieves from elsewhere who were just passing through.
The Sheriff’s Office is working with a newly formed task force through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation to share intelligence and information related to the sale of catalytic converters and other high-theft items across the state. The task force allows law enforcement agencies across the state to pool their resources and share information to try and identify not only thieves but also who is buying the stolen parts.
Mullett said he believes many of the parts stolen here are likely being taken across state lines to be sold.
Oklahoma lawmakers have also been working to curb thefts of catalytic converters and other metals.
A new law went into effect in November of 2021 requiring salvage dealers and metal recyclers to keep more thorough records of certain types of sales and requiring sellers of catalytic converters to present proof of ownership for the vehicle the part came from.
Another bill working its way through the legislature this session, HB3005, would make the possession or transfer of stolen catalytic converters a felony. It would also provide law enforcement officials more statutory authority to prosecute catalytic converter thefts, according to the bill’s author, Rep. Lonnie Simms of Jenks.
“Catalytic converter theft is a huge problem that unfortunately many Oklahomans have been directly affected by," Sims said. "Given the significant increase in inflation and ongoing supply chain problems, replacing a catalytic converter can cause significant financial strain on a family and leave them with an inoperable vehicle for months.”
Local law enforcement agencies are asking residents to call them if they see something that looks suspicious, even if it seems insignificant.
“People know their areas, who belongs and who doesn’t,” Mullett said. “Sometimes the calls can also help us establish a pattern of behavior for some of these crimes, too. If we receive multiple calls from a specific area in a short amount of time, we can add extra patrols in that area.”
While any vehicle can be a target, taller vehicles that are easy to roll under quickly, like trucks, vans, buses and sport utility vehicles, tend to be targeted more frequently.
To keep from falling victim to catalytic converter theft, law enforcement officials suggest parking cars close to your house, parking in a garage or inside a fenced area, if possible, to restrict access to your vehicle. Parking cars close to a wall, with the tailpipe closest to the wall, can make it harder for thieves to access the catalytic converter.
For multi-vehicle families, another strategy is to park vehicles that are closer to the ground around taller vehicles, restricting access to catalytic converters.
Adding motion-sensitive security lights or cameras can also be a deterrent, and Mullett said you should avoid leaving a vehicle unattended or unchecked for long periods of time.
“Don’t make it an easy target for somebody,” Mullett said.