Catalytic Converter Thefts Show Signs of Decline

Catalytic converter thefts are showing signs of slowing down in some states, KWCH reports.

For example, data from BeenVerified ranks the state of Kansas at 30 for the number of catalytic converter thefts per 100k registered automobiles. Some shops in the area claim that they’ve seen a slowdown in demand for the part, however.

Cindy Austin, co-owner of Bill’s American Muffler in Wichita, Kansas, says that their shop has seen a decrease in victims of theft coming through.

“We were totally swamped I bet we did 10-20 day, and now, it slowed down to 8-10 a week,” Austin stated.

Catalytic converters are targeted by thieves seeking the lucrative metals within the part, as the shop’s pipe builder and welder Shelby Hawk affirms. But the price of these metals has been decreasing lately, causing catalytic converters to not be as valuable.

The shop had worked alongside Wichita police to help find and return stolen catalytic converters and plans to continue to do so.

“We used an asset-based material to put that up there, and then in return if the catalytic converter got stolen, then if they got the converter back they will be able to look at the database to get the converter back and give it to the owner,” Austin said.