Houston bans possession of hacked catalytic converters to prevent theft

Catalytic converters are a key element in cars to control emissions due to the valuable metals inside. However, over 3,200 catalytic converters were stolen in Houston in 2022 years.

Losses have skyrocketed across the country over the past two years, and this is especially true in Houston, Texas. What started as a few hundred burglaries a year has grown to thousands, and lawmakers are scrambling to bring those numbers down. The fact is that stealing is already prohibited by law, so what else to do?

In Houston, the city passed an ordinance banning the possession of catalytic converters that have been cut up or scrapped.

Catalytic converter thefts on the rise in Houston

In 2019, 375 catalytic converter thefts were reported to Houston police. This was just the tip of the iceberg because the following year, the number of thefts skyrocketed to over 1,400 in 2020 and 7,800 in 2021. Now, with just five months to 2022, more than 3,200 people have reported catalytic converter thefts in Houston.

Under the new ruling, anyone in possession of a catalytic converter cut from a vehicle rather than disassembled will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor for each possession of it.

This isn't the first time the city has tried to cut down on stolen parts. In 2021, local law enforcement ordered recyclers to provide the year, make, model, and VIN of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was sourced each time it was purchased. Local regulations also limit the number of converters purchased from one per person to one per day.

Why are these exhaust system components a prime target for theft?

Well, inside the catalytic converter is a nice honeycomb core with a mixture of precious metals used to reduce emissions. These metals interact with harmful gases produced as a by-product of the combustion process in the engine, and as the exhaust gases pass through the catalytic converter, these elements make the gases less harmful and slightly less harmful to the environment.

In particular, these metals are platinum, palladium, and rhodium, and these metals merit significant change. Platinum is valued at $32 a gram, palladium at $74, and rhodium weighs over $570. Needless to say, this tiny emission neutralizing tube is quite valuable for scrap metal. These expensive metals also make converters a prime target for thieves looking to make a quick buck, hence the increase in theft in recent years.

For the average consumer, a stolen transducer is a major decision that is not covered by basic auto insurance. The National Crime Bureau estimates that the cost of repairs in the event of a theft can range from $1,000 to $3,000.

While Houston's laws only apply within the city limits, it's still a step in the right direction when it comes to curbing the rather large crime problem of catalytic converter theft. It remains to be seen whether it will be effective or not.

**********

: