Police: Catalytic converters cut from vehicles at Hempfield auto shop

State police are investigating the theft of catalytic converters — more specifically the precious metals they contain — from a Hempfield auto repair shop last week.

Police said catalytic converters were stolen from three vehicles at Arona Auto Care on Arona Road, between the evening of April 27 and morning of April 28.

Thefts of catalytic converters “literally can happen in just a few seconds,” when a person slides under a vehicle and cuts it off, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani, spokesman at the Greensburg station.

Catalytic converters — made of the metals platinum, palladium and rhodium — can cost $1,500 to replace. The thief might get a couple hundred bucks on the underground market.

“Whenever the price of rare metals and recyclables goes up, unfortunately, it’s a crime that sort of follows along with it,” Limani said.

Last year, police investigated a rash of catalytic converter thefts, including one in October at Valero Century RV north of Delmont, that impacted 35 vehicles. And in early 2021, state police investigated a theft of catalytic converters from about 30 vehicles in Somerset and Fayette counties.

In the City of Pittsburgh, nearly 80 catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles in 2021, according to police, who said that number is already up to 65 this year.

Limani asked people to pay attention for potential thieves when they’re in large parking lots.

“It’s costing the person that’s the victim, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000 to replace,” he said.

Limani said the thefts could stop if the perpetrator gets caught or the precious metal price drops. The recycling centers are responsible for taking identification when they receive precious metals.

“The last thing we want to do is strip a recycling center of their livelihood but those people … would know because they’re basically the experts,” he said.

Duffy Friedlander, who owns the Daniels & Miller scrap recycling center in Greensburg, noted it’s against the law for a business such as his to buy a detached catalytic converter from an individual. He said he discourages people from attempting to sell catalytic converters to him by citing an extremely low price.

“I don’t want to deal with them,” he said.

The owner of a Brackenridge metal recycling center grew so disgusted with the illegal activity related to catalytic converters that he stopped buying them altogether.

“The only way we buy a catalytic converter is with a car attached to it,” said Ted Tomson, owner of Tomson’s Scrap Metal, which has locations in Brackenridge and Harrison. “I don’t want to be involved in any of that.”

It used to be that a catalytic converter would sell for $5 or $10 or $20, Tomson said, but now they can go for up to $1,000, depending on the type of vehicle.

Pennsylvania’s Act 70 of 2014 also prohibits scrap dealers from purchasing other materials from individuals — including beer kegs, railroad materials and full-sized new materials used in construction or equipment and tools used by contractors.

A scrap processor who violates the law can be liable for a fine of up to $2,500 for an initial summary offense. Any subsequent violation is graded more severely, as a third-degree misdemeanor.

Friedlander said the only catalytic converters he accepts are those he purchases as part of an intact vehicle.

“When we buy a whole car from somebody, we’re getting a title for the car and all the parts for it,” he said.