Thieves Stealing Catalytic Converters For Scrap, Cash
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- This Honda sounds as if it doesn't have a muffler -- but what's really missing is a catalytic converter.
"So they cut this off," explains Isaac Ngandwe, "they cut this off on both sides. The converter is supposed to sit in the middle here."
Thieves in Highland Park have been stealing the converters and selling the platinum inside for scrap. In just the past two weeks Ngandwe has replaced converters in a dozen cars at his Mellon Street garage.
"We've seen a rash of this in the neighborhood," he said.
Using Sawzalls -- the thieves have fanned out across the city, hitting cars in Lawrenceville and quite a few in Polish Hill, just by crawling under the cars at night -- severing the pipe on both sides of the converter.
"It just takes a couple of minutes and if someone's doing it at night and they have a flashlight they can move very quickly," said Leslie Clague with the Polish Hill Civic Association. "So if there's a row of cars, they can go down the row and take them all."
And you can't drive it around -- since the converters convert and neutralize carbon monoxide -- the fumes can be noxious. The thieves are said to get about a $100 for the platinum, but if it happens to your car, it can cost more than $1,000.
"People who need money are always going to find something that has value, so this is the latest thing," said Clague.
And Pittsburgh Police are asking you to be their ears and eyes. They ask you to report anyone lurking by cars or crawling under them, hoping to nip this new trend in the bud.
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