Theft of catalytic converters is a big problem in Portland

This picture shows where a catalytic converter was cut from under a car.

(AUGUST 19, 2022) People sometimes break into cars and steal things from inside the car. People sometimes steal the car itself. Nowadays, however, only one thing might be missing after a crime -- the most valuable part of a car -- its catalytic converter.

According to Macmillan American Dictionary, a catalytic converter is "a piece of equipment fitted to a car in order to reduce the amount of poisonous gases that it sends into the air." In other words, it is part of the exhaust system. It lowers air pollution.

A catalytic converter also contains valuable metals. Thieves can sell the metals for thousands of dollars per ounce. A police officer from Beaverton said that criminals are fast, too. They can remove a catalytic converter in seconds. Also, individual parts are difficult to track.

A recent police report says that one group of criminals in the Portland area stole more than 44,000 catalytic converters since January 2021. The value was over $22 million.

Last year, the state of Oregon made a new law. It said that scrap metal businesses cannot buy catalytic converters from anyone except a commercial seller. The law also requires the scrap metal businesses to keep identification information so they can track the catalytic converters in case there is a crime reported.

To prevent the theft of a catalytic converter, drivers should park in an area with good lighting. They can part in an area where there is a video camera.