"Local scrap dealers, in most cases, collect the catalytic converters and move them on," McGannon said, adding that prices paid by scrap dealers for catalytic converters vary greatly throughout ...

The converters contain precious metals in high demand. For example, gold sells for more than $1,800 per ounce, but gold is not found in catalytic converters.

Reported thefts of catalytic converters in Houston and Harris County more than tripled this year, prompted by rising metal prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, law enforcement officials said.

Here's How Much Precious Metal Thieves Can Take From Your Catalytic Converter And here's how much prices have spiked for all of that palladium, rhodium, and platinum.

"As the value of the precious metals contained within the catalytic converters continues to increase, so do the number of thefts of these devices," David Glawe, CEO of the NICB said in a statement.

Thieves are targeting a certain car part that can get them some quick cash. Authorities say thefts of catalytic converters are becoming a big problem across the Lowcountry.

Thieves are stealing catalytic converters out of cars for their precious metals 3,986 thefts in 2015, with California Priuses taking the biggest hit.

A citywide rise in thefts of catalytic converters for scrap metal is particularly acute in the neighborhood of Silver Lake, according to Los Angeles police.

Catalytic converter thefts are not new, but throughout the state and nation, the dark-hour surgery has been increasing with the value of precious metals in the pollutant-scrubbing devices.

The Kansas Attorney General has decided that catalytic converters are covered under the Scrap Metal Theft Reduction Act and are required to be reported when sold to a scrap metal dealer.

As precious metals prices soar, so do catalytic converter thefts There’s something more valuable than gold attached to the bottom of your car — and it’s sparking a crime wave across the country.