BRIDGEPORT — Deering District detectives have issued a community alert warning locals about a rash of catalytic converter thefts in the neighborhood this month.
Criminals are after the precious metals inside catalytic converters, which contain platinum, palladium and rhodium, among other materials. A trip to a scrap yard with a stolen catalytic converter can put $100-$150 in a thief’s pocket.
Here’s a look at when and where the January incidents happened:
• Between 9 p.m. and 4:30 a.m. Jan. 15 in the 500 block of West 45th Street
• Between 9:30 a.m. Jan. 20 and 1 p.m. Jan. 21 in the 600 block of West 42nd Street.
• Between 8 a.m. Jan. 20 and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 21 in the 4300 block of South Normal Avenue
• Between 10 p.m. Jan. 23 and 7 a.m. Jan. 24 in the 600 block of West 46th Street
• Between 4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 and 8 a.m. Jan. 24 in the 3200 block of South Princeton Avenue.
• Between midnight and 7 a.m. Jan. 24 in the 3000 block of South Princeton Avenue
Here's what police say you can do to protect your vehicle and catalytic converter:
• Park in a well-lighted area.
• When you go shopping, park close to the store’s entrance, where there’s more traffic.
• Engrave your license plate number somewhere on the converter to make it traceable.
• Equip your car with a sensitive alarm system so the slightest movement triggers it.
• Have a local mechanic secure the converter by welding hardened pieces of steel to the frame.
• Head to the local auto parts store and buy a theft-stopping device for the converter.
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