Another catalytic converter theft spree has hit the Bethesda area over the last couple of weeks, and the locations are really across the board. Victims have been primarily Toyota Prius owners, as hybrid vehicles have cleaner exhaust systems, making their converters much more valuable to thieves wanting to sell the rhodium and platinum found in them. Priuses have been targeted in Battery Park, North Bethesda near Fernwood and Greentree Roads, Brookmont and Grosvenor.
There's not much you can do to prevent these thefts besides installing an anti-theft device on your converter, adding a motion-sensing light to your garage/driveway, or etching your license number onto the converter for law enforcement identification purposes. While time consuming, these actions might well be worth it if you own a hybrid vehicle.
Photos courtesy Toyota
"There's not much you can do to prevent these thefts besides installing an anti-theft device on your converter"
ReplyDeleteI'd think most of these thefts occur when parked along the street. If you have a Prius, parking in a garage will help a lot or even just reversing into your driveway would make accessing the CC harder. These are crimes of opportunity so, like locking your doors to deter someone going through your cupholder, minimal effort goes a long way.
Sounds like chickens coming home to roost.
ReplyDeleteNext time vote republican
ReplyDelete