Catalytic converters are highly valued items to steal from cars, due to the rare metals contained inside. (Dreamstime)

By Alex Rawnsley

BUSY THIEVES

Forty-one catalytic converters stolen through Oceanside so far in 2022

Jun 30, 2022 | 1:12 PM

PARKSVILLE — They’re valuable and quick to remove, making catalytic converters easy pickings for local thieves.

A rash of the thefts have occurred through the first months of 2022, sometimes in bunches with multiple reports within a 24 to 48 hour stretch.

Sgt. Shane Worth told NanaimoNewsNOW officers from the detachment are responding to calls constantly.

“It’s not necessarily an uptick, this is a continuing problem for us in our area as well as other areas across the Island. Since January 2022, 41 catalytic converters have been reported to us being stolen from vehicles and a further nine were attempted to be stolen.”

He added reports are coming in from all areas of their jurisdiction which extends through Parksville, Qualicum Beach and inland to the west side of Cameron Lake.

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Three were reported stolen from a similar area of Parksville on June 13 and 14 on Magnolia Drive, Hirst Ave. East and Crabapple Cres.

“They’re occurring predominantly at night, in low traffic areas such as closed business parking lots and off-highway parking areas,” Worth said.

Catalytic converters are used in a vehicle’s exhaust system and are prized for their rare metals including platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Worth said they’re easy to remove given where they’re typically placed on a vehicle and is a quick buck for thieves.

“We don’t know exactly where they are being sold, but the presumption is they’ve being sold for their metals and the metals are being bought by some unscrupulous buyer.”

Anyone with information on recent thefts of catalytic converters are encouraged to contact the Oceanside detachment at 250-248-6111.

The continued thefts of catalytic convertors comes despite efforts from the province in the form of new rules created in an attempt to curb the crime.

As of mid-March metal dealers and recyclers were required to report each transaction of catalytic converters to police on the day of the sale, in addition to recording information about the seller.

Across the province catalytic converter theft claims to ICBC rose from 89 in 2017 to nearly 2,000 last year.

ICBC claim costs for the stolen auto parts eclipsed $4 million in 2021.

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