Thefts of catalytic converters—part of the emissions-cleansing system found in most vehicles—are on the rise in Morgan Hill, according to police.
In the last week alone, 14 such thefts have been reported locally, according to MHPD Sgt. Carson Thomas.
“The neighborhoods that have been hit are in the Coyote Estates (area) and off of Fountain Oaks Drive,” Thomas said. Those neighborhoods are in eastern Morgan Hill.
MHPD released a video of a May 9 incident, captured by a home surveillance camera. The 24-second video clip shows two possibly male subjects approach a white sport-utility vehicle at nighttime. One of the suspects, wearing light colored clothing and holding a flashlight, crawled under the vehicle while the other walked around the other side of the vehicle and out of the view of the camera.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals, which can bring cash to thieves who find willing buyers for the stolen items at recycling centers, police explained. The devices convert exhaust fumes through a chemical process.
“It only takes a minute or two for a thief to saw your catalytic converter from underneath your vehicle,” Thomas said.
Almost all of the recent victim vehicles in Morgan Hill have been Toyota trucks or SUVs, police said. These vehicles sit higher off the ground and are easy for a thief to crawl under.
The recent rash of thefts follows a series of similar incidents in Gilroy, where police reported 13 catalytic converter thefts in one week as of April 22. On April 13, a thief or thieves stole 11 of the devices, mostly from Toyota Sequoia SUVs parked in private driveways, according to Gilroy police.
MPHD offers the following advice to deter potential catalytic converter thieves:
• Park your vehicle inside the garage if possible.
• Have your local mechanic install a “safety bar” across the catalytic converter. These devices can significantly slow down an attempted theft and discourage suspects.
• Engrave your Vehicle Identification Number into the catalytic converter.
Anyone with information about recent thefts can call Morgan Hill Police at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
