Pittsburgh police investigating sharp uptick in catalytic converter thefts

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Pittsburgh police are focusing on a spike in catalytic converter thefts, which they said is part of a nationwide trend.

So far, in 2022, police said there have been more than 182 reported catalytic thefts around the city. That is a significant increase from the last three years, police said. In 2019, only five thefts were reported.

The thieves are going after the parts because they contain precious metals that can be sold at very high prices, police said.

Investigators said the suspects often target hybrid vehicles because they have multiple converters.

Police think people in the community know who is behind it.  

"Our citizens know who's stealing them. They know who's buying them, and they know who's transporting them. We need those people to come forward and to tell us that," Pittsburgh Police Detective Donald Pasquarelli said.  

The metals in the parts can be worth a good chunk of money. According to Tim Dietz with Troubleshooters, an auto body shop in Ross Township, the metals can be hundreds to thousands of dollars an ounce.  

The catalytic converters can come off your car in just a few minutes, and it can cause damage to other components of your car.  

"When they cut it off, you have to replace this pipe, and this pipe is welded to this pipe. Now, this is a muffler, you have to replace that. It snowballs," Dietz said.   

There are things you can do to protect yourself and your vehicles, police said. They advise people to use anti-theft devices and to park their cars in the garage, and if that's not possible, in a well-lit area.

"Another big deterrent is a home surveillance system," Pasquarelli said. "We found cases here where your private cameras at home, directed at your vehicles, might help, or at least help us in trying to identify these people."

Also, police said if you see something that seems off, then report it for investigation.

"The public – you're the eyes and ears of the department. So, if you see something, say something," Pasquarelli said.

Police are asking for people who may have seen someone stealing or selling stolen parts to come forward with information. They believe someone knows who is stealing the parts and selling them.    

Call the police with any suspicious activity in your neighborhood.

In:
• Catalytic Converter Theft
• Pittsburgh Police