Officials warn of increasing catalytic converter thefts in Weld County

As the country experiences a rise in thefts of catalytic converters, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office is asking its residents to take precautions.

Catalytic converters are an exhaust emission control device found in many lower emission and hybrid vehicles. The converters contain precious metals that are trading at record prices, according to the Catalytic Converter Theft Committee.

Because of this, reports of catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed over the year, with the Denver Police Department receiving 257 such calls of the thefts in 2020 compared to only 15 in 2019.

In Weld County, the trend is smaller but significant for the area’s usual crime rate, deputies said. So far in 2021, the sheriff’s office has received 15 reports of catalytic converters being stolen from cars and more reports of attempted thefts.

Police searching for man accused of stealing catalytic converters

Because most catalytic converters don’t have serial numbers, it is difficult to prove one has been stolen. So the sheriff’s office is asking residents to uniquely identify their catalytic converters.

Options include engraving a unique number into the catalytic converter such as the vehicle’s VIN or license plate, or using a brightly colored, high-temperature automotive exhaust spray paint on the catalytic converter.

Other tips to deter theft are parking in a garage or secured area, installing a bright motion sensor light where the vehicle is parked, installing an anti-theft device, always locking cars and keeping minimally used cars in a secured, alarmed and well-lit yard.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 970-356-4015 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimeshurt.com.

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