Cops Seize 2,000 Stolen Catalytic Converters and $300,000 Cash in California Garage Bust

[corbe]

Cops Seize 2,000 Stolen Catalytic Converters and $300,000 Cash in California Garage Bust

By Chris Teague, The Drive  6 hrs ago

Sheriff's deputies in Elk Grove, California recently made a huge bust, recovering stolen goods and a ton of cash--but there were no drugs involved. Deputies say they seized nearly 2,000 stolen catalytic converters and around $300,000 in the operation, which was carried out with help from the local Elk Grove Police Department.


© Provided by The Drive

The haul looks every bit like a massive drug bust, with the exception that there's a big pile of catalytic converters on the garage floor instead of bales of cocaine. In addition to the pile of car parts, police seized $300,000 in cash--the only things missing here are a pet tiger and a bunch of guns.

Catalytic converter theft has become big business as the price of materials used in them continues to skyrocket. Metals such as palladium are heavily used in the construction of catalytic converters and can cost well over $2,000 per ounce. A jump in global demand is mostly to blame for the price increase, as many countries have changed regulations on how vehicle components are made and used.

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/cops-seize-2-000-stolen-catalytic-converters-and-300-000-cash-in-california-garage-bust/ar-BB176g6t?ocid=msedgntp

[SZonian]

With a battery powered sawsall, they're gone inside of 10 minutes, if that.

I fail to see how manufacturers can make this any more difficult and not end up costing consumers even more. 

Find and crucify the recyclers taking these things or...

maybe we just ban the use of catalytic converters?   

[Elderberry]

I just hate the whole use of catalytic converters. Running the engine rich to reduce the evil NOX emissions and then burning the excess fuel in the catalytic converter.

[corbe]

   

   When notified his shop had been shut down by the Local Republican Sheriff Ami Bera (CA,7) was shocked.

[Elderberry]

The other parts that often get stolen are truck tailgates and airbags. I've been the victim of both. The airbag, we only discovered it was missing when we took the car in for the airbag recall and were told they couldn't do the recall as we had no airbag to replace.  So I continue to get hounded over and over again to get the airbag replaced that we don't have.

[PeteS in CA]

   

   When notified his shop had been shut down by the Local Republican Sheriff Ami Bera (CA,7) was shocked.

Geez, I wish that were the case! Because he's a race-baiting equine anus:

February 4, 2020 - Rep. Ami Bera claimed Trump's China travel restrictions would "create prejudices" and cause people to "harbor anxieties toward" Chinese people; https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/02/04/coronavirus-quarantine-travel-ban-could-backfire-experts-fear-1258757