Catalytic converter thefts are down across the St. Louis region
Catalytic converter thefts are down across the St. Louis region
ST. LOUIS — The number of catalytic converter thefts is declining across the St. Louis region after a yearslong surge, according to local police departments.
Thefts of the device, key for controlling a vehicle’s pollution, surged in recent years because of the resale value of the precious metals inside.
Drivers often don’t realize their catalytic converter is gone until the next time they try to drive, and repairs can cost thousands of dollars.
But the trend has reversed this year, as local police departments have seen year-over-year declines in theft of the part ranging from 30% to 70%.
The exact causes are difficult to pinpoint, but officials have a few theories.
One is that a crackdown on serial catalytic converter snatchers — and new state laws that carry harsher penalties for offenders — may