WINONA, Minn. – A catalytic converter thief was making the rounds overnight. Police said two converters were reported taken from the exhaust system of two vehicles in a fenced lot at Habitat for Humanity at 126 North Baker Street. Two other converters were reported taken from a van a block away at Schneider Heating and Air Conditioning at 101 Harvester Street. Without converters, vehicles are inoperable. Replacement runs $1,000 to $2,000. Thieves can get a few hundred dollars in back-alley ttrade for the platinum, iridium or palladium sealed inside each converter’s double metallic cylinder.
