Catalytic converter thefts on the rise in Comox Valley
RCMP in the Comox Valley are reporting a dramatic spike in thefts of catalytic converters and are passing along tips for drivers to make their vehicles less attractive to thieves looking to steal the devices.
According to Const. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP, 15 converters were stolen from vehicles from May 1 to June 4, compared to five converter thefts in the month of April.
“It is a significant increase that we’ve noticed,” Terragni says. “It might be the same people, it might be the same group of people. There’s a number of municipalities and areas within B.C., within the Lower Mainland and on the island that have seen an increase.”
Police believe the increase is likely due to the increase in value of the precious metals that are found inside the units.
“The thieves have to go and steal the catalytic converter from the vehicle, that involves going underneath the vehicle, quite often it is in the cover of darkness so it’s definitely very important to give us a call with any kind of suspicious activity that you see” Terragni says.
Terragni recommends motorists have their mechanics etch a number into the converter so if it is stolen, police have a way of tracking it.
Catalytic converter theft is a problem that Garret Cole, assistant manager of Midas Mufflers in Courtenay, says has been around for a while.
“We see them every year, two or three times per year, prevalent in places that people know their car is going to be sitting there all day, Cole says, noting ferry terminals are a popular spot.
He says the thefts are a larger problem for drivers of older vehicles for which parts can be more difficult to source.
“It can cause quite a headache,” he says. “It’s not an inexpensive piece and it’s not an easy job – very few shops still do this stuff.”
Cole recommends parking your vehicle in a high-traffic area and avoiding leaving it in a remote area overnight, something the RCMP agree with.
‘If you’re parking outside, park in an area that makes the undercarriage of your vehicle less accessible to thieves, whether it’s beside another vehicle or beside a wall,” Terragni says.
The Insurance Corporation of British Columbia doesn’t have any statistics available for 2021, but says there were approximately 1,025 catalytic converter theft claims in B.C. last year.
ICBC indicates the average cost of each of those claims was $2,117, which is covered under comprehensive insurance.
Tips from ICBC:
- Park your vehicle in a well-lit area
- If you have a garage or locked area, park your vehicle there overnight
- Report all catalytic converter thefts (or attempted thefts) to the police as soon as possible
- Some vehicles can have security devices installed or welded to their frame. You may also want to consider engraving your car’s VIN into the catalytic converter
- Adjust the security system on your car, if already installed, to activate from vibrations, such as those produced by a saw.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.