Catalytic Converter Thieves Strike Again

Raleigh, N.C. — Thieves have stolen 17 more catalytic converters from a third automotive shop in north Raleigh, police said Friday.

Seven of the devices, which are part of a vehicle's exhaust system that help reduce harmful emissions, were stolen from vehicles at Carolina Muffler and Brake at 5221 Atlantic Ave., and another 10 were taken from a scrap heap outside the shop, police said. The theft occurred sometime last weekend, police said.

Thirteen catalytic converters were stolen on July 13 from vehicles awaiting repair at Foster's Auto Body at 7300 Capital Blvd., police said. The following day, 18 of the devices were taken from vehicles at J&J Automotive in the 3800 block of Capital Boulevard, police said.

Investigators said they aren't sure whether the catalytic converters are being taken to be installed in other vehicles or so the thieves can recover and sell the small amounts of precious metals in the devices.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Raleigh Police Department’s Detective Division at 919-890-3555 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIME.

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Latest Comments

That's "Lane". I have big fingers and no its not my real address. LOL. Just in a playful mood today. Got to have a little fun in life sometimes.

gopanthers
July 28, 2007 1:23 p.m.

If these guys want another catalytic converter they can come to my house and take my whole car. Please take it! Address is 1313 Mockingbird Land.

gopanthers
July 28, 2007 12:18 p.m.

And my truck has 2 of them. My dashboard light wants to come on from time to time and a shop says I need new CC's for $600 or so. So they'll replace them, charge me full price, keep the CC's, and turn around and sell them for 50 a piece as scrap.

Hip-Shot
July 28, 2007 10:36 a.m.

I went to Argentina a couple of years ago, and if a house, factory, or building was left unguarded, theives would go in and strip it out of everything...wiring, fixtures, siding, building materials, tin roofing, flooring, anything removable. This was a wide-spread problem there, from what I heard. At that time, I said "I can't imagine a place where people would do that".

peacebee
July 27, 2007 10:39 p.m.

Don't be so hard on these thiefs, for they are just poor victims of society. That's what the liberals call them when they are in someone's elses neighborhood, but when they move to their's, these same victims of society become undesireables.