North Dakota Auto Repair Shop Sees Spike in Catalytic Converter Theft Victims

An auto repair shop in Fargo, North Dakota, is seeing an uptick in catalytic converter thefts in the region, reports AM 1100 The Flag.

Amy Hagman of Bruns Automotive shared that there’s been a rise in calls for catalytic converter replacement quotes. Her shop had six customers impacted by thefts in just one day, and the week prior, they had another two customers come in who were also targeted.

Thieves target catalytic converters for the valuable metals they’re made out of, with the removal of one from a vehicle taking just 90 seconds. Hagman claimed she’s seen a rise in prices for these metals recently, making them especially valuable.

“Now we’re starting to see those precious metals go up in cost. When that goes up in cost, you tend to see cats getting stolen,” said Hagman.

Heavy-duty trucks, box vans, or any vehicles located in a fleet are the most commonly targeted, due to them typically having larger catalytic converters.

The issue of catalytic converter theft has persisted nationwide. Last week, the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts Act was reintroduced in Congress to combat the issue, which would require all catalytic converters to be marked with a traceable identification number.

In the meantime, Bruns Automotive is doing what it can to keep their customers safe and informed. Following the surge in theft victims coming to their shop, they sent out a social media post warning their followers of the increase in incidents. Additionally, they caution customers to take preventative measures, such as parking in well-lit areas with security surveillance, and installing catalytic converter security devices.