MADISONVILLE, Ohio — Imagine parking your car on the street and coming back an hour later to find part of your car's exhaust system stolen.
Catalytic converter theft is becoming a major issue, with the Cincinnati Police Department reporting more than 100 stolen across the city since fall. And many more are never reported to police.
There are some new ways to stop this expensive type of auto theft, though.
Owners think their muffler has gone bad
At Overbeck Auto Servicesin Madisonville, their technicians get the call every few weeks.
Certified technician David Blathers said, "Someone calls and says, 'I think I need a muffler. I have a loud exhaust. Can you check it out?'"
In almost every case, Blathers quickly discovers it's not a bad muffler. Rather, a thief had stolen the catalytic converter.
"Rebecca," who didn't want to appear on camera, was a recent victim.
"I came out of my house, started my Prius, and it roared," she said.
Overbeck Auto Services owner Matt Overbeck said thieves can remove converters, which are filled with valuable rhodium and palladium, in seconds. Thieves then sell the converter for big bucks at scrap yards or on the black market.
"Some of these converters now have a scrap value of a thousand dollars," Overbeck said.
The worst part is car owners then have to pay between $2,000 and $3,000 to have a new one installed.
Which cars are the biggest target of catalytic converter thieves?
Hybrids, like Rebecca's Toyota Prius, are most often targeted because their converters contain the largest amount of those expensive metals.
Full-size SUV's and pickup trucks are also frequent targets, because the thief does not have to jack up the truck. The thief can just slide underneath with a saw.
A 2016 Ohio law prohibits scrap yards from buying more than one converter from an individual per day.
But Overbeck said thieves find ways around it.
What you can do
Overbeck said if you park in a risky area at night, such as a city street, you can now protect your car for between $200 and $300.
"Some companies have begun to make guard shields to cover your catalytic converter," he said. "It is an aluminum shield that's fastened in place with rivets to prevent a thief from getting that catalytic converter."
Some companies selling these shields are CatSecurity and CatClamp.
Overkill? Perhaps. But if you park on a street or city parking lot at night, you might want some extra protection.
That way, you don't waste your money.
______________
Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps").
Like" John Matarese Money on Facebook
Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney
Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese)
For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com
