North Van RCMP warn public of an increase in catalytic converter thefts

North Vancouver RCMP are advising the public of a dramatic increase in catalytic converter thefts in the District of North Vancouver. Neighbourhoods that encompass the areas of Cleveland, Grousewoods, Hansdsworth and Lynn Valley represent recent hot spots most targeted by thieves.

In an effort to further their ongoing investigational efforts, the North Vancouver RCMP are appealing to anyone in the aforementioned neighbourhoods that may have recorded video surveillance of any cat burglars to contact police immediately.

As is often the case, our biggest investigational asset are vigilant community members, said Cst. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP. Surveillance footage is an immensely helpful resource that we lean on for identifying suspects and the patterns that can lead to an arrest. If a thief knows they’re being recorded and the whole neighbourhood is on the lookout, they’ll be more likely to change their plans.

As the name suggests, a catalytic converter converts many of a vehicle’s more harmful exhaust pollutants into less harmful emissions. The appeal of stealing one is less about resale value and more likely committed with the intention of selling it to a recycling facility for the small amount of valuable metal it contains. A new catalytic converter costs between $100 and $200, but having one professionally installed could be hundreds of dollars extra. The majority of vehicles being targeted are Hyundai’s Tucson and Santa Fe models.

With the right tools and technical knowledge, a catalytic converter can be removed quickly – 30 seconds flat in some cases, explained Sahak. However, this is a noisy process. If you find yourself waking to the sound of power tools at an ungodly hour and spot a suspicious person underneath a car, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Here are a few tips you can follow to prevent theft of your catalytic converter:

• Park in your home garage, if possible
• Use motion sensing exterior house lights if you park in your driveway
• Park in a well-lit area
• Keep a watchful eye in your neighbourhood and report anything that seems suspicious  

Anyone who thinks they may have witnessed, have surveillance footage or information about these catalytic converter thefts are asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP at (604)-985-1311, or Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or via mobile phone app. Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of a criminal or recovery of stolen property.