Reports of stolen catalytic converters off vehicles are increasing in Eunice, which follows a national trend.
The Eunice Police Department radio dispatch logs noted two instances on Monday — one at Sears and the other at the John R. Young dealership.
“That’s one of those crimes that is happening all over,” Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
Thieves are selling the stolen converters, which are part of the exhaust system, for $200 to $800, Fontenot said.
“Some of these catalytic converters are being sold in Mamou. We’ve alerted the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office. Some are being sold in Mississippi,” he said.
The converters contain precious metals including rhodium, platinum and palladium. Vehicle made after 1974 are required to have catalytic converters.
The theft occurs in minutes. The converter is sawed off the exhaust system.
One thief was caught with a charging station for the portable saw in the back of a pickup truck so he could operate with a fresh battery charge.
More than a week ago, an attempted theft was discovered at John R. Young.
“They didn’t finish cutting it off. Something spooked them and scared them off. I want to hope it was a patrol car passing through the area that spooked them,” he said.
Dozens of the converters have been stolen locally in a series of thefts that started several months ago.
“They hit a few apartment complexes and some houses. They mostly hitting places where they have cars stored outside that are waiting to be worked on,” he said.
“Older model vehicles and vans are a target they are after because some of the older model vehicles’ catalytic converters are selling for higher prices,” he said.
“If these people would quit buying them from thieves the market would drop,” Fontenot said.
There is not much protection from the thefts except for vigilance, he said.
Between the value of the catalytic converter and damage to the vehicle, the crime is a felony, he said.
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Harlan Kirgan
LSN Editor