Since pandemic unemployment pay has dried up, it looks like catalytic converter thieves are back to work, too. State Police in Schuylkill County have received at least 5 different reports from people claiming someone stole catalytic converters off their vehicles.
Some of the reports date back to the middle of August.
Thieves generally target catalytic converters on vehicles because they contain valuable metals like palladium, platinum, and rhodium.
Rash of Catalytic Converter Thefts Reported in Schuylkill County
Police have provided some details on each of the reported catalytic converter thefts.
Back on Aug. 30, Utility Line Services Inc., of Conshohocken, reported that a catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle it had at 1500 Route 61-South, near the Cressona Mall. That address is the former Aldi store near the mall.
The company reported that someone stole the catalytic converter off a Ford F550 it had at that address. The catalytic converter has a value of $1,500.
Earlier in August, sometime since the 14th, 4 catalytic converters were swiped from a vacant lot along Green Tree Dr. in West Brunswick Twp. that’s used as a campsite, according to info from State Police in Schuylkill Haven. The property owners reported that 4 vehicles they had parked there had their catalytic converters sawed off.
The suspected thief or thieves at that incident also made off with a pair of generators.
Also back on the 14th, a Pine Grove man reported that someone stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked at the Dirt Mall in North Manheim Twp.
Catalytic converters were also reported stolen from vehicles in Porter Twp.
A Halifax man reported that someone stole the valuable part from a vehicle parked on S. Yohe St. The incident happened sometime between May and last week, according to police. But if it’s any indication, another catalytic converter theft was reported on Sept. 3 by the Porter-Tower Joint Municipal Authority. They say someone lifted the part from an F250 pickup.
Police ask if anyone has information on any of these incidents, they should call the Haven barracks at 570-754-4600.
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