Framingham Police: Robber Steals Catalytic Converter From Vehicle in Public Garage

FRAMINGHAM – Police are investigating the theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked in a public garage this weekend.

A catalytic convertor was taken off vehicle that was parked in Pearl Street parking garage, said Lt. Rachel Mickens.

The theft was reported at 2:31 p.m. on August 26.

Framingham Police have no suspects at this time, said the police spokesperson.

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There has been an increase in catalytic converter thefts in Framingham this year, but the City is not alone.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau has the a 325% increase in thefts from 2019 to 2020.

A catalytic converter is a tool installed on every car, be it diesel or gasoline. The converter is a catalyst located in the exhaust channel that works to filter hydrocarbons and other pollutants as waste products of engine combustion.

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The converter auto part contains platinum, palladium or rhodium.

On the black market, those metals can mean $100 to $250 for every converter stolen.

But for the owners of the vehicles, the replacement can be even more expensive.

Parts & labor can be $1,000 to more than $2,000 to replace and install a new converter.

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