STEWARTVILLE, Minn. – Video surveillance from August shows how catalytic converter thieves do their business. Bryce Suess, 47, climbed out of his pickup with a cordless saw. This was after dark at a Stewartville business with vehicles parked outside. Moments later there he is on camera carrying a cut-off converter in one hand and the saw in the other. Then comes video from Watson Recycling in Rochester. Suess again climbs out of his pickup, this time to sell the converter. It turns out to his surprise, however, that he’s on a Watson watchlist because of previous fencing. He’s turned away. The sale doesn’t go through. His arrest followed. Now Suess has been to court to plea. He admitted guilt to misdemeanor drug and domestic assault charges. In exchange, these felony charges were dropped:
> Illegal firearm or ammo possession.
> Burglary tools possession.
Sentencing is due in March.
Black-market value
Scrap dealers typically $80 to $230 for catalytic converters but there are occasional sales as high as $1,000. The emission-control devices are required by law on biofuel-powered vehicles. Their value is for the platinum, rhodin or palladium – the precious metals that capture fumes that are especially bad for the environment. A vehicle without a converter won’t work. Replacement in most cases runs the vehicle-owner $2,000 or so. At the high end:
> Ferrari F430, which has two converters, s $7,500.
> Lamborghini Aventador, also with two converters, $6,200.
> Dodge Ram 2500, $3,400.
> Ford F-250, $2,800.
Most targeted
Some cars are especially popular with thieves because their converters are quick to remove or because so many are around: Ford F-Series (1985-2021); Jeep Patriot (2007-2017; Chrysler 200 (2011-2017); Chevrolet Equinox (2005-2021); Dodge Avenger (2008-2014); Ford Econoline (1990-2022); Honda CR-V (1997-2020); Chevrolet Silverado (1999-2021); Toyota Camry (1987-2019); Honda Accord (1989-2020).