Catalytic Converter Thefts Hit an “Epidemic High” in the Face of Shortage

There are some pretty weird trends unfolding across the world as we continue to cope with the impacts of COVID-19. Sure, we are slowly beginning to get away from a world where we all have to hide inside and wear masks. However, there are all sorts of bigger impacts that we are going to be feeling the waves of the pandemic, for years if not a lifetime.

In the short term, this means that we are having a lot of shortages. Because much of the world shut down and the supply and demand curves moved a little bit, there are some pretty weird things happening in the industrial world. In other words, with everybody being at home, the need for certain materials has changed. This spike in demand combined with a shortage in supply due to shutdowns has created some interesting situations.

One of those situations revolves around something simple that not many would’ve thought about. We’re talking about the catalytic converter that pretty much every combustion-powered vehicle is going to have.

Because of the precious metal content in the converter, the part has always been worth a good amount of money. As thieves are able to steal the part in just a minute or two with the help of a saw and a jack, it’s no secret that converter theft has always run rampant. However, with an extraordinary price hike over the last couple of months, theft numbers have skyrocketed.

Not only are we facing a short supply due, in part to the pandemic, that has driven prices up. Rising emission standards mean that more of these materials need to be used and they have found higher demand as well. This is a formula for a price hike.

Down in the video below, KPIX CBS SF Bay Area reports on catalytic converter theft that has hit what they call an “epidemic high” in the face of this shortage.