Share, email, print, bookmark SOURCE reports.

[broadstreet zone=”59983″]

FRAMINGHAM – Police are investigating the theft of four catalytic converters on Wednesday & Thursday.

Framingham Police have no suspects at this time, said Framingham Police Lt. Rachel Mickens.

A catalytic converter was stolen at 302 Potter Road. It was reported at 6:03 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21.

A catalytic converter was stolen at 65 Hemenway Road. It was reported at 8:43 a.m. on Wednesday, September 22.

[broadstreet zone=”59946″]

A catalytic converter was stolen at 38 Edith Road. It was reported at 3:03 p.m. on September 22.

On this incident police said two suspects were seen wearing masks and hoods in black sedan. 

A catalytic converter was stolen at 64 Jean Street. It was reported at 4:36 p.m. on Thursday, September 22.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported a 325% increase in thefts from 2019 to 2020, nationwide, and the thefts have continued in 2021, and 2022.

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.

[broadstreet zone=”59947″]

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.

[broadstreet zone=”53130″]

By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.