New Lenox Cops: Catalytic Converter Crime Spree Continues

Creeps continued crawling under cars to steal catalytic converters, cops said.

Both of the most recent thefts were reported Friday. The police learned of the first shortly after 10 a.m.

An officer sent to the Metra parking lot near the intersection of Cedar Road and Lincoln Highway to investigate what was amiss was told by a victimized man that "an unknown person removed the catalytic converter from his vehicle," police said.

That night, about 7:30, an officer was sent to the Kmart parking lot and was told by a man there that "an unknown person removed the catalytic converter from his vehicle," police said.

One of the two previous catalytic converter thefts in town also was from the Kmart parking lot. The other was in the nearby Williamson's restaurant parking lot.

An emission control device, a catalytic converter contains "precious metals that act as catalysts," according to Nationwide Insurance's website.

"With the price of precious metals skyrocketing, thieves are helping themselves to catalytic converters that contain enough platinum, palladium or rhodium to make it worth the risk to cut it from the underbelly of your vehicle," the site said. "You might become aware that your catalytic converter has been stolen when your vehicle starts with a gravelly roar."

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