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Cross section of a catalytic converter

New Milford Police Chief Spencer Cerrito said catalytic converter thefts are taking place mainly in the Route 7 corridor.

New Milford has had 15 incidents this year where catalytic converters were stolen — and no one has been caught. Incidents are increasing locally and nationwide.

NEW MILFORD — With more than a dozen catalytic converters stolen since the beginning of the year, the New Milford Police Department has been working to prevent those crimes.

New Milford Police Chief Spencer Cerruto said catalytic converter thefts are a “big problem” nationally, regionally, and locally.

In 2019, across the nation, 3,400 catalytic converter thefts were reported. In 2020, that number grew to almost 15,000 and last year, 2021, more than 50,000 thefts were reported, he said.

“This harms the average citizen ... hard-working people who are trying to provide for their family to get up in the morning to go to work and try to start your car and to find your catalytic converter missing — is just a terrible thing to happen,” he said at Monday’s Town Council meeting.

He added it can be much worse for a senior citizen who needs to get to the doctor and needs prescriptions in a timely manner.

“For them to get in their car and be unable to use their vehicle is just unconscionable,” he said.

Catalytic converters, which are a part of a car’s emissions-control system, contain metals that have increased in value because of supply chain issues, he said.

New Milford has reported 15 incidents this year where catalytic converters were stolen — and no one has been caught.

“One way we’re going to solve this is by working together with other communities. And believe me, other communities are experiencing this,” he said.

He said Danbury has reported four times the number of catalytic converter thefts than New Milford.

Additionally, “Newtown has had more than us. Brookfield is right behind us,” he said.

“It’s happening everywhere in the region, so we need to work together to solve this problem,” he said.

Cerruto said catalytic converter thefts have a low success rate across the state.

“When you do catch one, it’s a big success,” he said.

Catalytic converters are “desirable” because of the “expensive” metals contained in them, Cerruto said

“The expensive metals reduce the amount of toxins that are emitted through the exhaust,” Cerruto said.

One of the metals in converters is platinum, which is selling for $1,000 an ounce. Another is palladium, which sells for over $2,000 an ounce. They also contain rhodium, which sells for over $14,000 an ounce.

“These metals are less available. Therefore, the converters are less available, therefore there’s a bigger market for these items,” he said. “So this supply chain issue has driven up the cost and these costs have been driven up exponentially.”

While people used to get $50 to $100 for a catalytic converter, they now can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars, he said.

“So the market certainly is driven,” he said. “And that’s the problem nationally and regionally.”

A catalytic converter can cost from $1,000 to $2,000, he said.

In New Milford, Cerruto said, catalytic converter thefts are taking place mainly in the Route 7 corridor.

“It’s large shopping centers like Walmart and Stop & Shop and Aldi’s,” he said.

He added they occur in the daytime, between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., “where it used to be a midnight type of an issue, under the cover of darkness.”

Additionally, they’re mostly happening during the week, he said.

The vehicles that are most likely targeted are higher from the ground.

Highly desirable vehicles for these kinds of thefts include Ford pickups, Dodge Rams, and Mercedes Benzes, he said.

“More expensive cars have more expensive catalytic converters,” Cerruto said. “They might have a catalytic converter that has more precious metal in it or they might be one of those cars that has two catalytic converters in tandem to lessen the amount of toxins that are released. We’re finding, at least in our community, that the Toyota Prius is one of the most sought after vehicles.”

He said he’s not exactly sure why people are participating in catalytic converter thefts, other than to say criminals operate “in tandem.”

“They operate as a group and they’re now more emboldened,” he said.

With a new law that took effect July 1, the state of Connecticut has taken steps to prevent the way criminals can trade in catalytic converters. Cerruto said he think this might help.

The town hasn’t had a catalytic converter stolen since July 28.

Due to the new law, those who turn in a catalytic converter would have to have it on a car.

“They would have to show ID and there would be a paper trail and a transaction, so it’s not so easy where somebody can bring two or three or four or 10 to a junkyard and turn them in,” he said.

The New Milford Police Department has assigned one detective to lead investigations.

“Rather than having 15 different investigations going on at once, we’ve focused the effort into one detective,” he said.

Cerruto said he has had detectives and undercover officers sitting in department store parking lots in unmarked cars, hoping to catch someone in the act.

Additionally, the department has been working with the state on reporting incidents.

The community can help reduce catalytic converter thefts is to be aware of “where you’re parking,” Cerruto said.

“If you can park in a lighted area or closer to a store or your house, that’s a better situation. If you can park your vehicle inside a garage, that’s another good option,” he said.

He said it can take just three minutes to get under a car and remove a catalytic converter.

He added the public may consider purchasing metal plates that cover the catalytic converter. They cost from $75 to $125.

Police also advise parking or having motion sensor lights or cameras in the driveway.

“If you can mark the catalytic converter, that would be helpful. Mark it with your license plate number. Scribe the VIN (vehicle identification number) number in,” he said, adding many dealerships and mechanic shops will do this for customers.

“You could even get under and spray paint the catalytic converter yourself,” he said.

The VIN number or marking helps police identify its vehicle source,

He added be sure to check with the insurance company of the vehicle to ensure the theft is covered.

He said a lot of the larger stores in the area are working with police in giving them access to their surveillance cameras.

Cerruto said he’s “cautiously optimistic” the law will help reduce the number of catalytic converter thefts.

“I just wanted to make sure I reassure the public that there’s nothing I’d rather do than catch who’s doing this and hold them accountable for the harm that they have caused,” he said.