Pittsburg Police Department reminds public to be vigilant when protecting personal property
One item thieves are after is catalytic converters.
The Pittsburg Police Department reminds the public to be vigilant while protecting their personal property, particularly in the case of catalytic converters.
52 reports of catalytic converter theft have been made to the Pittsburg Police Department so far during the first six months of the year.
The organization received 12 reports of the crime in the last 6 months of 2020.
Thieves target the catalytic converter because of the metals contained inside them, which include platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
Currently, vehicles that are being targeted include large passenger vans, buses, super-duty trucks, and recreational vehicles; however, all vehicles should be considered potential targets.
It can cost a victim up to $2,000 to replace a stolen catalytic converter, according to PPD.
The Pittsburg Police Department encourages citizens to take these precautions to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of theft, which include parking your vehicle in a well-lit area and in view of security cameras, near the roadway, bock the undercarriage or make it difficult to reach, calibrate you vehicle’s alarms to set off when it detects vibration, and etch a unique identification number into the converter and write the number down later.
The organization encourages citizens to stay vigilant and if you see suspicious activity call 620-231-1700.