GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Thefts of catalytic converters have jumped over the last couple of years.
Both Ashwaubenon Public Safety and Green Bay Police have noticed an uptick in thefts.
However, scrapyards say they’re working with police to catch people in the act.
According to experts, it doesn’t take long to remove a catalytic converter from a vehicle.
“They’ll take these electrical sawzalls, these cordless sawzalls they’ll slide under your vehicle quick, they’ll cut it off and they’ll be gone in under 5 minutes,” B & B Metals Industrial Account Manager Paul Brodtke said.
“And what they’re getting anywhere from 50 to 1000 dollars. It’s pretty quick money,” Green Bay Police Professional Standards Capt. Ben Allen said.
Scrap metal businesses say it’s the metal inside the catalytic converter that makes the part valuable.
“And what makes this small item here worth so much is the rhodium and the platinum that’s inside of here,” Brodtke said.
Green Bay Police say the majority of reported thefts happen outside city businesses.
“Where there are multiple business vehicles parked which is really easy picking for these people that are doing this,” Allen said.
In the Village of Ashwaubenon, police say it’s happening all over.
“There’s really no rhyme or reason as far as locations. We’ve seen residential, we’ve seen commercial, industrial, pretty much all have been hit,” Ashwaubenon Public Safety Deputy Chief Nick Kozloski said.
Brodtke says his business works with law enforcement if they suspect a catalytic converter is stolen.
“We take every individual’s ID and we scan it into the system. And then if there’s any suspicious activity, we’ll contact the local authorities and we’ll give them all the information and let them do the investigative work to see if it’s something that’s actually stolen or if it was a legit sale,” Brodtke said.
Police say parking in a secure garage could prevent your catalytic converter from being stolen.
“In instances where a garage isn’t available, if you can park in a well lit area, secured parking lot, maybe there’s a fence around it, things like that,” Kozloski said.
Police want to remind residents to contact their local department if they see suspicious activity.
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