New Oregon bill hopes to curb rampant theft of catalytic converters
In early February, the catalytic converter was stolen out of Kristen Simmons’ Prius.
“I got it replaced at Broadway Toyota,” Simmons said, “and when I went to drive off the lot it sounded like they hadn’t replaced it.”
So, she said, they put her car back on the lift.
“The new one had been cut out while the car was on the lot,” she said.
The theft of catalytic converters -- a part of the exhaust system that helps reduce harmful emissions in most cars built after the mid-1970s -- is a big problem for car owners.
When a catalytic converter is stolen from a car, it leaves a gap in the exhaust system, bypassing the muffler and making the car louder while also allowing exhaust gasses to be emitted underneath the car rather than out the tailpipe.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals that make them ripe for selling on the black market.
A new Oregon Senate bill, SB 803, hopes to curb the rampant theft of this car part by prohibiting scrap metal businesses from purchasing or receiving most catalytic converters.
Simmons isn’t the only Prius owner who has experienced the loss of one or more catalytic converters.
The Oregonian/OregonLive put out a call on Twitter for stories of people who have had theirs stolen and of the many responses, almost all came from Prius owners.
Priuses have “been hit harder than other cars in Portland and everywhere,” according to Cale Pelton, shop manager at Atomic Auto Hybrid Repair in Northeast Portland.
That’s because the catalytic converters in the hybrid cars contain more precious metals like palladium and rhodium.
This isn’t a new problem, but it might be getting worse. According to The Washington Post, earlier this month one troy ounce of rhodium, a bit heavier than a regular ounce, cost around $27,000, up from $1,700 three years ago.
“They’re worth a lot on the recycling market, so to speak,” Pelton said.
Atomic Auto, Pelton said, has replaced about 240 catalytic converters since January of 2020.
“And we’re a small shop,” he said.
On Thursday morning, when Pelton answered the phone at the shop, he said two cars had already come in that day to get missing catalytic converters replaced.
Atomic Auto also installs “cat shields” meant to deter thieves. Since January of 2020, Pelton said, he estimates they have installed 580.
Atomic Auto’s owner Travis Decker created a website to lobby officials to help with the issue, which can cost car owners between $1,500 and $3,000. One of those officials, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, is behind SB 803.
Oregon Senator Chris Gorsek of Troutdale is the chief sponsor of the bill, introduced at Schmidt’s request.
“I was hearing from constituents and fellow lawmakers who have had their catalytic converters stolen,” Gorsek said. “Thieves can get around $500 each for them and replacement costs are even more dramatic running into the thousands of dollars to fix the issue.”
Gorsek thinks the bill is likely to pass.
”Given the crime prevention approach that DA Mike Schmidt has come up with for the legislation,” he said, “it doesn’t run contrary to reform efforts while not taking teeth out of the current law.”
“Right now, thieves in Oregon are taking advantage of the fact that there is a thriving gray and black market for the sale of catalytic converters,” said Brent Weisberg, a spokesperson for Schmidt, in a statement Friday. “It takes just minutes for a thief to steal catalytic converters using cheap and easily transportable and concealable equipment, but the impact to vehicle owners is drastic and very costly.”
“This is an issue plaguing our community and auto industry and we are looking forward to working with legislators to address it,” he added.
Gorsek and others realize the bill alone isn’t enough to stop that theft.
“We’ll still have some issue with out-of-state demand but having this law in place in Oregon is a very good way to start reducing thefts by making them harder to sell,” Gorsek said. “If you’re looking to turn over a quick buck having to drive your stolen goods four or five hundred miles to get paid is going to be a strong deterrent.”
In early February, the catalytic converter was stolen out of Kristen Simmons’ Prius.
“I got it replaced at Broadway Toyota,” Simmons said, “and when I went to drive off the lot it sounded like they hadn’t replaced it.”
So, she said, they put her car back on the lift.
“The new one had been cut out while the car was on the lot,” she said.
The theft of catalytic converters -- a part of the exhaust system that helps reduce harmful emissions in most cars built after the mid-1970s -- is a big problem for car owners.
When a catalytic converter is stolen from a car, it leaves a gap in the exhaust system, bypassing the muffler and making the car louder while also allowing exhaust gasses to be emitted underneath the car rather than out the tailpipe.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals that make them ripe for selling on the black market.
A new Oregon Senate bill, SB 803, hopes to curb the rampant theft of this car part by prohibiting scrap metal businesses from purchasing or receiving most catalytic converters.
Simmons isn’t the only Prius owner who has experienced the loss of one or more catalytic converters.
The Oregonian/OregonLive put out a call on Twitter for stories of people who have had theirs stolen and of the many responses, almost all came from Prius owners.
Priuses have “been hit harder than other cars in Portland and everywhere,” according to Cale Pelton, shop manager at Atomic Auto Hybrid Repair in Northeast Portland.
That’s because the catalytic converters in the hybrid cars contain more precious metals like palladium and rhodium.
This isn’t a new problem, but it might be getting worse. According to The Washington Post, earlier this month one troy ounce of rhodium, a bit heavier than a regular ounce, cost around $27,000, up from $1,700 three years ago.
“They’re worth a lot on the recycling market, so to speak,” Pelton said.
Atomic Auto, Pelton said, has replaced about 240 catalytic converters since January of 2020.
“And we’re a small shop,” he said.
On Thursday morning, when Pelton answered the phone at the shop, he said two cars had already come in that day to get missing catalytic converters replaced.
Atomic Auto also installs “cat shields” meant to deter thieves. Since January of 2020, Pelton said, he estimates they have installed 580.
Atomic Auto’s owner Travis Decker created a website to lobby officials to help with the issue, which can cost car owners between $1,500 and $3,000. One of those officials, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, is behind SB 803.
Oregon Senator Chris Gorsek of Troutdale is the chief sponsor of the bill, introduced at Schmidt’s request.
“I was hearing from constituents and fellow lawmakers who have had their catalytic converters stolen,” Gorsek said. “Thieves can get around $500 each for them and replacement costs are even more dramatic running into the thousands of dollars to fix the issue.”
Gorsek thinks the bill is likely to pass.
”Given the crime prevention approach that DA Mike Schmidt has come up with for the legislation,” he said, “it doesn’t run contrary to reform efforts while not taking teeth out of the current law.”
“Right now, thieves in Oregon are taking advantage of the fact that there is a thriving gray and black market for the sale of catalytic converters,” said Brent Weisberg, a spokesperson for Schmidt, in a statement Friday. “It takes just minutes for a thief to steal catalytic converters using cheap and easily transportable and concealable equipment, but the impact to vehicle owners is drastic and very costly.”
“This is an issue plaguing our community and auto industry and we are looking forward to working with legislators to address it,” he added.
Gorsek and others realize the bill alone isn’t enough to stop that theft.
“We’ll still have some issue with out-of-state demand but having this law in place in Oregon is a very good way to start reducing thefts by making them harder to sell,” Gorsek said. “If you’re looking to turn over a quick buck having to drive your stolen goods four or five hundred miles to get paid is going to be a strong deterrent.”
