Phoenix cops find 1,200 catalytic converters as thefts soar

PHOENIX -- An Arizona man was facing a number of theft expenses Friday after detectives found 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 position in reducing car emissions.

The discovery adopted a months-long investigation that started with a January tip that somebody was storing stolen catalytic converters in an industrial space near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“We were very surprised at the quantity in there,” Phoenix police Det. Adam Popelier stated in a police video taken Thursday as officers had been 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 charges.

The massive rise in catalytic converters thefts throughout the nation has hit tens of thousands of automotive and truck homeowners in the pocketbook and annoyed police, who're faced with against the law that takes just minutes to commit and is difficult to solve even if they find the stolen parts.

Catalytic converters should not imprinted at the manufacturing facility with serial numbers and stolen converters find yourself on a black market the place they are chopped open for the precious metals they contain.

Changing one can cost a motorist from $1,000 to $3,000, in line with the Nationwide Insurance Crime Bureau, an insurance coverage industry group that works to combat insurance fraud and crime. Police say thieves can get from $100 to $150 for every converter.

The insurance group counted just 3,969 reviews of stolen catalytic converters in 2019, greater than 17,000 in 2020 and more than 52,000 final yr.

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

That features Arizona, the place Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill this month that makes possession of a catalytic converter in many cases a criminal offense and adds detailed reporting necessities for scrap sellers that buy reliable used gadgets. They must mark the item with the donor car's serial quantity and retain it for a minimum of per week in authentic situation.

Scrap dealers caught with unregistered or stolen converters face a $500 fine for the first offense, a $2,000 high-quality for a second and not less than double that for every extra time they're caught. These possessing or making an attempt to promote a used catalytic converter that don't meet new necessities may face a six-month jail sentence.

Federal laws can be within the works. Indiana Rep. Jim Baird is sponsoring a bill backed by the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau that may require serial numbers on new units, offer grants for packages to stamp numbers on current automobiles and vans and make it simpler to prosecute thefts.

The insurance coverage group's President and CEO David Glawe called it a crucial step in serving to convey relief to people instantly impacted by the thefts.

Insurance typically does not cover a car owner's losses. Somebody carrying just legal responsibility coverage or liability and collision is on the hook for the total invoice. Even with comprehensive protection, there's a deductible which may be high enough that it is not worth filing a claim.

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