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City Cracks Down on Catalytic Converter Black Market

 A mechanic replaces a catalytic converter on a vehicle that was victimized in Lincoln Park in late March.
A mechanic replaces a catalytic converter on a vehicle that was victimized in Lincoln Park in late March.
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DNAinfo/Paul Biasco

CHICAGO — The city is making efforts to crack down on the crime that frightens side-street parkers across Chicago: catalytic converter theft.

It's a technical phrase that far too many Chicagoans have had to learn, either from personal experience or from co-workers or neighbors, after the pricey part had been cut from their vehicle.

Wednesday the City Council approved a measure to crack down on the specific theft, which can cost upwards of $750 to repair. The city estimates Chicago victims of catalytic converter theft, assuming a price of $750 per repair, spend at least $1 million per year to replace the part.

“Residents who are victims of catalytic converter theft are not only left with an inoperable vehicle, they face an often significant cost of replacing the part and are inconvenienced while their car is repaired,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.

Paul Biasco discusses when his catalytic converter was stolen:

It's difficult to actually stop thieves from taking catalytic converters, which have small amounts of precious metals including platinum, rhodium and palladium, but the city seeks to make it more difficult to sell the parts.

The new measure, introduced by Emanuel and Ald. Marty Quinn (13th), prohibits second-hand dealers, junk peddlers and pawn shops from dealing in detached catalytic converters. It sets specific guidelines for vehicle repair shops and recycling facilities about who they can accept converters from and how they can responsibly dispose of them.

Click here to find how to help prevent the theft of your catalytic converter

It takes on average of less than 30 seconds for a thief to steal the part from under a vehicle, according to the Chicago Police Department. Thieves are able to remove the converters in a matter of seconds with a battery-powered saw.

The converters can fetch $30 to $150 for the thief. Platinum currently is trading for more than $1,100 per ounce and palladium and platinum are trading near historic highs.

Honda Elements, Jeeps and older SUVS that sit higher off the ground are the most common targets.

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