Framingham Police: Catalytic Converter Stolen From Vehicle in Staff Parking Lot

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FRAMINGHAM – A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle parked at the Learning Center fo the Deaf on Tuesday, said Framingham Police.

The theft was reported at 5:05 p.m. on July 19 to police.

The Honda CRV was parked in the staff lot at 848 Central Street

Framingham Police have no suspects at this time.

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.

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.

While you can drive a vehicle without the catalytic converter, it is not recommended.

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And the removal of either the front or rear catalytic converters will cause your vehicle to fail the emissions test. As a result, you will be unable to get your registration renewed until the vehicle’s emissions system is restored.

Owners usually learn they’ve been a victim when they start their car and hear a loud roar.

Skilled thieves armed with a wrench or cordless saw can steal a converter in less than 3 minutes.

According to the NICB, trucks are popular targets because the converters are easier to access.

The Toyota Prius is popular, as well, because they generally have two converters.

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