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Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are asking residents to be more vigilant around garages and parking lots, after a recent rise in catalytic converter thefts.

Santa Clarita Deputies Warn About Catalytic Converter Thefts

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are asking residents to be more vigilant around garages and parking lots, after a recent rise in catalytic converter thefts.


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“It seems to be pretty prevalent across the valley in (the Nixle crime reports),” said Lt. Brenda Cambra of the Sheriff’s Station’s Detective Bureau. “It’s even happening while people are in a restaurant or at the mall.”

Nixle reports are free alerts sent out by SCV Sheriff’s Station officials from the Crime Prevention Unit, which monitors local crime trends and notifies residents about information to keep safe. (Click here for more information.)

There are two factors making the theft enticing: the resale value of the catalytic converter, and its ease of removal from a vehicle, according to experts.

The part, even used, often sells for anywhere from $50 to $150 because there are valuable metals in the catalytic converter.

And it’s been an issue for years partly because it’s so difficult to prevent, said Dave Reeves, owner of Reeves Complete Automotive Service.

“Aside from standing next to the car or parking in the garage…” Reeves said when asked about preventing the theft, alluding to the speed with which thieves are able to steal the part.

There are a couple things residents can do to help law enforcement officials, Cambra said.

If residents can increase their awareness about any suspicious parking lot activities, and then relay that to the Sheriff’s Station, it can increase deputies’ chances of catching the thieves.

If anyone sees someone hanging around a car or someone going underneath a car (which is where the catalytic converter is located) and then takes off, “we’d love a call when that happens,” Cambra said. If a citizen is able to report suspicious behavior, as well as the suspicious person’s license plate, it can really help.
Cars and trucks that are higher off the ground represent an easier target for thieves. More recently, the Toyota Sequoia, as well as Honda SUVs, tend to be at a higher risk for the theft, according to reports.

Anyone who observes suspicious behavior is asked to call the Sheriff’s Station at 661-255-1121.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Santa Clarita Deputies Warn About Catalytic Converter Thefts

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.