Catalytic converter thefts have soared in Houston and across the country since the pandemic started, leaving millions of car owners facing repairs that can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Here's what you need to know.
The Chronicle spoke with the Houston Police Department and local scrap metal dealers to answer the most commonly asked questions about catalytic converter theft.Catalytic converters are tubular sections of a vehicle's exhaust system, located near the muffler. Hot engine gases pass through the converter before being emitted. Most vehicles have just one, but larger cars and trucks can have up to four.
Rhodium reached a high of $27,000 per ounce in April 2021 and now trades at $18,000 per ounce, according to precious metals firm Kitco. Meanwhile, palladium currently sells for $2,100 per ounce, while platinum commands $900 per ounce. "The more we look into it, the more we see that they’re organized," he said."There are several layers of people involved in purchasing and selling this material."
Theft cases can be difficult to solve because many converters police suspect as stolen can't be matched to specific vehicles and victims, Gamez said. Toyota Prius models from 2004 to 2009 are also targeted because their converters contain higher concentrations of precious metals to compensate for the reduced flow of hot gases from hybrid engines, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. A single catalytic converter from an older Toyota Prius can sell for $1,000 or more, the IIHS found.
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