WINONA, Minn. –A catalytic converter was unbolted from the underbody of car at Winona State University over the weekend – the latest in a new rash of such thefts. Police were told the theft occurred between 10 a.m. Friday and 10 a.m. on Monday. The car was in a university parking lot.
Devices profile
Converters are anti-pollution device that contain precious metals including platinum, palladium or rhodium. Since 1975 federal law has required new cars to be equipped with the devices. Although hot on the black market for thieves, the underground value is only a fraction of $2,000-plus that car owners must pay to replace the legally required devices.