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STRUCK TWICE — Haywood Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore truck was the targeted twice by a catalytic converter thief.
By arresting Calvin Glen Medford, 35, the Waynesville Police Department has cracked a crime spree that dates back to December 2020.
On March 14, Detective Evan Davis charged Medford with 40 felonies related to 20 catalytic converter thefts.
Medford, who is in custody for unrelated charges, was given an additional $100,000 bond.
As is the case nationally, catalytic converter theft has become increasingly commonplace as thieves target high-clearance vehicles where they can slip beneath the undercarriage and fairly quickly take off with a device containing platinum, palladium and rhodium, all rare metals that are sold for cash.
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams credited the proactive actions of patrol officers and an in-depth follow-up investigation by detectives with solving the cases.
“These types of crimes create a significant expense to the victims and businesses. Hopefully, this will lead to some restitution through adjudication,” he said.
Detective Tyler Trantham said detectives are still trying to identify potential victims as well as others who may have been involved in the incidents. He said the arrest helped solve the majority of open cases involving catalytic converter thefts.
“Our goal is to find others who may have been involved,” Trantham said. “Some of the cases are fairly old, but we were able to connect the dots. I feel confident from what we have gathered he’s (Medford) responsible for these cases.”
The investigation has crossed into cases with other jurisdictions both inside and outside the county, he said, noting the department will continue its investigation.
It is estimated that these crimes have cost victims between $30,000 to $40,000.
“This isn’t an issue that is unique to us,” he said. “In this area we’ve seen quite a few cases, but it is something that’s happening nationwide.”
Through the investigation, officers learned quite a bit about how those stealing catalytic converters operate.
First off, they target vehicles that are higher off the ground that are in lower traffic, dimly lit areas. That makes it easier to slip beneath the vehicle, remove the part and leave quickly.
Replacement costs for the stolen catalytic converters depend on the make of the vehicle, Trantham said, and then there’s the wait time and hassle of getting it repaired.
He was hopeful the arrest has not only solved past cases, but perhaps will have future benefits.
“Hopefully, this will prevent this from happening,” he said, urging those who are victims or who see suspicious activity that could involve catalytic converter theft to give him a call.
Jamye Sheppard, the executive director of Habitat for Humanity, had to buy three catalytic converters after being hit by thieves.
A ReStore truck was hit not once, but twice, by someone stealing the catalytic converter.
STRUCK TWICE — Haywood Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore truck was the targeted twice by a catalytic converter thief.
The box truck is customarily parked in front of the store on Walnut Street in Waynesville, an area that is fairly well traveled and lit, Sheppard said.
Still, someone saw it as an easy target, an act that cost the nonprofit organization striving to provide affordable housing in Haywood County plenty.
“We were able to get it fixed, but we had to get a universal catalytic converter because of the supply chain issue,” she said. “That one didn’t work very well, so we found another place that had the right one.”
The generic option cost $300, but the properly fitted converter was $1,700 she said. Not long afterward, a thief hit the organization’s truck a second time, meaning a third catalytic converter needed to be purchased.
For those wondering how they would know whether a vehicle’s catalytic converter has been stolen, Sheppard has the answer.
“It is real loud when you start it up,” she said. “We not only had the direct cost of the catalytic converters but we had to rent a truck while we were waiting for ours to be fixed.”
• Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain platinum, rhodium and palladium and can fetch between $50 and $250 on the black market.
• High-clearance vehicles are often targeted because they allow thieves easier access.
• It takes between 5-19 minutes to steal a catalytic converter.
• The best ways to protect a vehicle against theft is to etch a license plate number on the part, park in well-lit areas and install an anti-theft device.
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