Catalytic converter theft soaring by as much as 600% in NYCBy Dean Balsamini
August 20, 2022
Catalytic converter thieves are revving up their operations in the Big Apple — citywide, the crime has accelerated by 269% this year — and on Staten Island, by a meteoric 670%, NYPD data show.
Across the five boroughs, 5,548 catalytic converters have been ripped off through Aug. 14, compared to the same period last year, when 1,505 were reported stolen, according to the stats.
On Staten Island, catalytic converter thefts rose to 362, up from just 47 the year before, for a 670% increase — the biggest surge in the five boroughs.
“It’s really bad. I’m one shop and in the last few months I’ve done [repaired] 15 cars. Ninety-five percent are Honda Accords,” said Nick Dhouib, manager of Ten Point Auto Repair in New Dorp for the last 30 years. “The people complain about the noise,” he said.
One Staten Island auto repair mechanic pointed the finger at the Garden State.
“I hear they are coming from New Jersey. They jump on the bridge [Goethals or Outerbridge Crossing], take what they can and go back to Jersey,” said the shop owner, who requested anonymity.
Queens leads the five boroughs with 2,092 converter thefts in 2022, compared to 574 in the same period last year — a hefty 264% hike.
In Brooklyn “cat” thefts hit 1,534, up from 403 in 2021, a 281 % spike; The Bronx saw 976, up from 286, for a 241% leap; Manhattan had 584 such thefts so far this year, compared to 195 in 2021 for a 199% rise.
A catalytic converter, which contains rhodium, palladium and platinum, is a piece of the automobile’s exhaust system that breaks down some of the smog which would otherwise come out of the tailpipe.
Crooks can get up to $300 for a standard catalytic converter and up to $1,400 for the part from hybrid vehicles.
* * *
The ripoffs, most of which are considered as petty larceny under New York law, continue to soar because copping catalytic converters is a non-violent, tough-to track-crime — and little punishment if caught.
The bail eligible offense means that, even if arrested, the thieves are back on the prowl in no time.
“A petty theft in the eyes of our new progressive criminal justice model is meaningless. It’s a low-risk high-reward crime,” said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.
* * *
Source:
https://nypost.com/2022/08/20/more-than-5000-catalytic-converter-thefts-reported-in-nyc/
