New state law aims to curb catalytic converter thefts

A new state law will make it more difficult for catalytic converter thieves to get away with the crime.

The new legislation will go into effect Friday, raising the fine for the crime of stealing catalytic converters. The new law will require anyone selling the equipment to provide identification, the VIN number from which the item was removed and require all transactions to be done via check.

“As most people probably know, inside catalytic converters there is palladium, rhodium and platinum. That’s why the converters are being stolen. They extract those three metals and sell them, primarily for the platinum, but these could be worth several hundred to several thousands of dollars,” said State Farm insurance agent Robyn Lea in an earlier interview.

On Wednesday, Warren County Sheriff’s Department received a call from Woodlawn Baptist Church stating a bus had been stripped of its catalytic converter. Sheriff Martin Pace stated the bus had been parked for quite a while and there is no telling when the crime could have occurred.

Woodlawn Baptist Church

Establishing the new regulations on the exchange of such parts hopes to curb the crime trend.

“We all see it. It’s very common,” Gulfport Police Chief Adam Cooper told WLOX. “It’s a load on the person it happens to. It’s very expensive to get repaired because it’s an expensive item taken right off the car, and it’s not very well protected under the vehicle.”

The new law also provides protections aimed at reducing the theft of copper wire. The bill was collaborated on by State Senator Mike Thompson and Representative Kevin Felsher.

Keith Phillips contributed to this story.

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