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.

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.