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Catalytic converters stolen from school district vehicles 

–Monday morning, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District discovered that six school vans were vandalized. The catalytic converters were removed. The thief entered the vehicle yard through a gate and stole the device off of six older model vans.

Transportation and Operations Manager Kelly Stainbrook said, “They were older vans, so finding the replacement parts may be challenging.” Stainbrook says the yard was hit last year, but they caught the culprit. “A homeless guy was siphoning gas, but our camera caught a picture of his vehicle and police tracked him down. He was arrested.”

Kelly said she has greater challenges than theft and vandalism. “Right now my big concern is hiring bus drivers. We really need bus drivers. Many of our drivers have worked here for many years, some for 15-20 years. But we need more drivers.”

Anyone interested in becoming a bus driver, call the school district and they’ll put you in touch with Kelly Stainbrook. The PRJUSD phone number is (805) 769-1000.

The converters are being stolen because of the high value of some of the precious metals used to manufacture them, police say. And, it only takes a thief about three minutes to steal one.

What does a catalytic converter do?

Required in all gasoline cars and trucks sold in the United States since 1975, the converters have a honeycomb-like interior – coated with precious metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum – that scrubs the worst toxic pollutants from the car’s exhaust. Currently, the prices of the precious metals are high: palladium – $2,332 per ounce; rhodium – $21,500 per ounce; and platinum – $1,262 per ounce. The price of rhodium has more than doubled in just the last year.

Why is there an increase in these thefts here locally?

The reason for these thefts is a direct result of an increase in demand for the precious metals inside of the catalytic converters. A global trend toward stricter automobile emissions rules and the effects of the pandemic on the mining in South Africa, a major producer of rhodium, has limited the supply causing the price of these precious metals to drastically increase.

How can I protect my vehicle from these thefts?

To protect your vehicle from this kind of theft, park inside your home garage if possible, police say. If garage parking isn’t available, use driveway motion-sensing lights, install security cameras, or park in well-lit areas. Additional steps that can be taken include having the VIN number etched on the converter. Some people have gone so far as having steel plates bolted over the top of the converter onto the frame, police say. Consult a mechanic for this type of service.

If you see or hear suspicious activity, like a Sawzall hacking away at 2 a.m., and see criminal behavior, call your local police department or 911. The cost to replace a converter ranges between $1700 and $3000 plus the hassle and misery.

Why do thieves target vehicles like the Toyota Prius?

Toyota Prius converters fetch a higher price because their gasoline engines aren’t in as much use, and so it can take longer for the car to burn out the precious metals.

Is this a new crime trend?

No. This type of theft has been around since the development of catalytic converters. The value of the metals brings thieves to communities as the reward starts to outweigh the risk of getting caught.

What are the police doing to help the community not fall victim to these thefts?

When law enforcement sees an increase in crimes such as this, they often reach out to neighboring agencies and share information to aid in the capture or investigations into these crimes. They also deliver important information through our social media outlets and neighborhood watch partners to educate the community about these thefts.

–Additional information provided by the Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo police departments

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About the author: News Staff

The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.