Phoenix cops discover 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was dealing with a number of theft costs Friday after detectives discovered more than 1,200 catalytic converters packed into a storage unit, a case that highlights a national surge in thefts of the pricy auto parts that play a vital role in lowering car emissions.

The discovery adopted a months-long investigation that began with a January tip that somebody was storing stolen catalytic converters in an industrial area close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We had been very surprised at the quantity in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier said in a police video taken Thursday as officers were pulling converters from the jam-packed storage locker.

The 48-year-old man who police say was buying and selling the convertors was charged with 40 counts of theft and should face extra prices.

The large rise in catalytic converters thefts throughout the nation has hit tens of 1000's of car and truck house owners within the pocketbook and frustrated police, who are faced with a criminal offense that takes just minutes to commit and is difficult to unravel even when they discover the stolen elements.

Catalytic converters are not imprinted at the factory with serial numbers and stolen converters end up on a black market the place they're chopped open for the dear metals they contain.

Changing one can value a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, in accordance with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, an insurance coverage business group that works to fight insurance coverage fraud and crime. Police say thieves can get from $100 to $150 for each converter.

The insurance group counted simply 3,969 experiences of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, greater than 17,000 in 2020 and greater than 52,000 final year.

Lawmakers across the nation have taken discover, introducing laws designed to make it harder for criminals to unload their loot. According to the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, 150 payments have been introduced this yr in 36 states and enacted in 16 states.

That features Arizona, where Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in lots of instances a criminal offense and adds detailed reporting necessities for scrap dealers that buy professional used devices. They have to mark the merchandise with the donor car's serial number and retain it for not less than per week in authentic situation.

Scrap sellers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 high-quality for the primary offense, a $2,000 nice for a second and not less than double that for each additional time they are caught. Those possessing or making an attempt to promote a used catalytic converter that don't meet new requirements could face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal legislation can also be within the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a bill backed by the National Insurance coverage Crime Bureau that will require serial numbers on new devices, offer grants for programs to stamp numbers on existing automobiles and trucks and make it simpler to prosecute thefts.

The insurance coverage group's President and CEO David Glawe referred to as it a important step in serving to convey reduction to people straight impacted by the thefts.

Insurance coverage usually doesn't cowl a automobile proprietor's losses. Someone carrying just legal responsibility protection or legal responsibility and collision is on the hook for the total invoice. Even with complete coverage, there's a deductible that could be high sufficient that it is not worth submitting a declare.

“Lastly, some victims even with protection could treat the issue as a mechanical difficulty and simply pay for it themselves and never notify their insurer,” insurance coverage crime bureau spokesperson Tully Lehman mentioned Friday.