Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise in Santa Barbara County with 276 reported thefts in 2021 within the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, an increase from 76 thefts in 2020 and nine in 2019, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s an easy score; it’s such an easy thing to steal. We’ve seen the Ring doorbell videos, and it’s incredibly fast. … I feel so bad for our community that suffers from this theft because it’s a big one,” Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mark Valencia said.
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases from a car’s emissions into less toxic pollutants. Converters are worth $800 to $1200, he said.
The most targeted vehicles are Honda Accords, Toyota Priuses, and Ford F250 and F350 series trucks. Suspects will get underneath the vehicle and cut the exhaust metal pipes to and from the catalytic converter with an electric saw. The entire process takes less than two minutes, and cars cannot start without converters in place, he said.
Across the state, more than 14,000 Californians had their catalytic converters stolen in 2021 alone, a major jump from 6,021 in 2020 and 1,254 in 2019, according to BeenVerified, a data analyzing website.
“Since it’s a petty crime, and if it’s an individual vehicle, the consequences aren’t as severe. The risk is less because the crime isn’t as severe because that’s how the state constructs the law,” Valencia said.
Petty crime is a misdemeanor—rather than a felony—in California, which is punishable by probation, fines, or six months in a county jail under Proposition 47. Valencia said the state passed the law in order to reduce jail populations due to COVID-19 and it’s impacted crime rates.
“Property crimes are on the absolute rise, but this is what the state has done because we aren’t holding them accountable. That’s not a law enforcement issue; it’s a state issue. We have to ask at what point are people going to be held accountable,” Valencia pointed out.
In order to stop catalytic converter thefts, Valencia believes it’s up to the state to put a regulation or restriction in place on salvage yards and recycling centers that purchase and resell stolen converters.
“It boils down to supply and demand. If you hold the salvage yards accountable for what they are purchasing, then thefts will drop because they won’t have the ability to strip out precious metals,” he said.
Other states are putting regulations in place to prevent catalytic converter theft. Washington state proposed a bill that would prohibit scrap dealers from purchasing catalytic converters except from commercial enterprises and vehicle owners. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abott signed a bill into law that makes it a third-degree felony to buy or sell stolen catalytic converters, according to the Statesman Journal. Valencia hopes California will follow in other states’ footsteps.
“We are just the arms of the state’s will. I can’t be selective of the laws I enforce. … We as a state have created an opportunity for victimization. I love this community, and I hate to see victims of any kind. It’s always unfortunate, and these petty crimes are the ones that lead to the bigger ones,” Valencia said.
Valencia asks county residents to call the police or Sheriff’s Office to report suspicious behavior or to report their stolen catalytic converter. People should park their cars in well lit areas and off of the streets to prevent thefts; they can also install anti-theft devices to keep the converter in place.
“The public needs to be made aware and notify us if there’s something suspicious or out of place,” he said.
This article appears in Jan 6-13, 2022.
