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Marty Boyer's carefully maintained sport utility vehicle growled more
like a dragster than a 2001 Honda Passport when he turned the key.
"The second I turned it over, and it sounded like a tank and a Harley, I
knew exactly what had occurred," said Boyer, 33, .
A half-dozen office colleagues had told him about that roar after their
own catalytic converters were stolen, a crime that has been rising
rapidly across the country from riverside parking lots in Cincinnati to
highways along the California coast.
The pollution-reducing converters contain small amounts of the precious
metals platinum and palladium, and they've joined copper wire and sewer
grates on the long list of metal items targeted by thieves eager to cash
in on climbing metal commodity prices.
Converter thieves slip under vehicles with battery-powered saws,
sometimes in daylight, and in a matter of minutes leave owners with
shocking repair bills.
The thefts were only a sporadic problem nationally until about a year
ago but have grown to a near-epidemic, said Frank Scafidi, a spokesman
for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Scafidi received an
overwhelming response when he recently questioned bureau agents.
"Everybody was seeing reports of this, hearing reports of this, talking
to the local cops — all over the country," he said.
Since January, 43 converter thefts were reported in downtown Cincinnati,
compared with eight during the first half of 2007, said police Lt. Mark
Briede.
In Arizona, the Phoenix police department's metal thefts squad has grown
to accommodate a rash of thefts, including converters. Authorities in
Portland, Ore. and Memphis, Tenn., also report increases.
California has become a hot spot, especially in the Sacramento and San
Francisco areas, and thieves sometimes steal vehicles and abandon them
after removing the converters, said Lt. Chris Costigan of the California
Highway Patrol.
No comprehensive national totals are available on converter thefts,
which are usually lumped into theft or vandalism categories.
Converters have been standard equipment since the mid-1970s, and some
newer vehicles have up to four.
Five years ago, platinum traded for about $608 per troy ounce and
palladium went for $208. Platinum now goes for $2,083 per troy ounce,
and palladium draws about $468 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. A
troy ounce is a a metal measurement slightly larger than a common ounce.
Prices have increased with demand as use of catalytic converters grew
and platinum jewelry gained in popularity, said Larry Manziek, executive
director of the International Precious Metals Institute, a Pensacola,
Fla.-based trade organization. In the last year, electronic trading of
platinum also increased, making the metal an easier investment, he said.
Scrap yards usually pay $50 to $100 per converter, but industry experts
say the price varies among buyers, said Bruce Savage, a spokesman for
the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, a trade organization.
Converter replacement costs are much higher, ranging from about $200 for
a universal model to $1,000 or more for one from the vehicle
manufacturer.
Boyer, an assistant technology director at a downtown business, paid
$572 to replace his and plans to spend $360 for converter protectors.
He's now so wary that he put off buying a new vehicle and instead
started driving an older car to work.
For car owners willing to spend extra, there are products such as the
CatClamp, a tough-to-cut converter cage sold by American Welders Inc. of
Toledo, starting around $225. For others, police say the best defense is
a watchful eye, a bit of luck and increased awareness among law
enforcement.
Cincinnati auto repair shop owner Randy Rice empathizes. He fixes
damaged exhaust systems — one came in with the saw still inside — and
he's even had to replace 10 converters stolen from cars on his lot, at
his own expense. Now he's adding a new security camera and extra
lighting.
Across the Ohio River in Newport and Covington, Ky., officials tightened
regulations for scrap yards, requiring that they copy the driver's
license of anyone trying to sell metal. Covington yards also hold metal
for a month to allow stolen items to be reclaimed.
That follows the advice of the scrap yard trade group, which urges its
1,600 members to document each transaction, making it easier for police
to follow up. The organization also forwards theft alerts from law
enforcement agencies to its members.
Boyer says there's no easy solution.
"I could teach my 6-year-old how to do it in probably 15 minutes," he
said. "It's like stealing from somebody while their windows are down."
Passion for Riding
my favorite recipe for adrenaline
First preheat atmosphere to a balmy 77 degrees.
Next place the "KEY" ingredient in the bike and slowly turn.
Riders pulse should begin to quicken as he hears the Cobra pipes growl
Place safety gear on as not to attract additional tickets.
Next climb down onto the bike, taking care not to drool on your tank.
Slosh fuel in tank to ensure a return ride is possible.
Carefully ride through town to the stretch of road which contains "Dead
mans curve, Devil's bend, Satan's twisted nightmare or whatever they
call it in your town"
Carefully remove thoughts of lonely wife and kids, should you not
return.
Snap right wrist toward road and BAKE at 90 mph for 30 minutes or until
glazed.
Passion for Riding
Enjoy |
