Some vehicles are more targeted by thieves than others.
For thieves, stealing catalysts is a big deal.
Now, a police department has outlined which vehicles are most affected in cities like Burnaby.
Catalytic converters control emissions to reduce pollution, but they were a target for deep due to an increase in the price of metals they contain.
“We see late 90s to mid-2000s model vehicles being targeted for catalyst theft,” reads a tweet from the New Westminster Police Department account. “Often import vehicles such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson or Santa Fe, Kia Sportage, Honda Element and Odyssey, Toyota Prius, and more recently the Honda Accord. SUVs, pick-ups, commercial Cube vans such as the Ford E350 Cube van and Ford F150 are targeted because they sit higher and are easier to get deep.
Police encourage drivers to park in well-lit areas or in a secure garage. Be aware of suspicious activity or noises around your vehicle. Do not hesitate to call 911 if you see a burglary going on, and document as many suspicious descriptors as possible, police said.
The British Columbia government recently moved to prevent the theft of catalysts, a crime that costs millions every year.
The province has changed the regulations for metal dealers and recyclers so that they report any transaction, including seller information, to the police.
BC’s insurance company says the converter theft claims rose from 89 in 2017 to 1,953 last year, totaling more than $ 4 million in claims costs by 2021.
Until the regulations change, the converters can be sold without giving information about the seller, so they can remain anonymous.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says changing the rules will help police find perpetrators and work to reduce the incentive for people to steal them in the first place.
- With report from Canadian press
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