Rudy Salo investigates the unique and ubiquitous crime of altering theft. He could … [+]
The bad news is that your car hasn’t been stolen. Such a statement sounds silly 99.9% of the time, but if you (as a writer) are one of the many—is the sum of the number-Americans with car insurance that recently had their auxiliary converters stolen, it would make sense. This is because replacing key parts of combustion engines and hybrid cars started taking six months during the pandemic, and the backlog continues as the rise in theft coincides with the global crisis caused by rail issues. In addition, most car insurance programs cover a rental car for a very short period of time, leaving car-dependent owners with limited options (although public transport should be considered as an alternative). So what’s going on with the strange and ubiquitous thefts that have just happened?
First, for those like the writer who don’t know about cars – especially cars with combustion engines or hybrid powertrains, but not electric vehicles (EVs) – you may not know what an auxiliary switch is. The catalytic converter is part of the car’s exhaust system. Its main function is to complete (almost magically) the chemical process that filters the fuel gas so that it is free of toxins as it is released into the atmosphere. Most gas-powered vehicles, including cars, trucks, buses, trains, motorcycles, and airplanes, have exhaust systems equipped with replacement parts.
In order to complete the processing of such a fast and powerful drug, other elements are involved, which are Platinum (Pt), Palladium (Pd), and Rhodium (Rh) and are available in auxiliary versions. These metals are rare and their value has skyrocketed in the last few years. As a result, the price hike has attracted thieves looking for a quick way to make money by selling stolen converters for their rare items. Thefts rose above 1200% between 2018 and 2022, and even the police cars are not. safe.
Arrests and prosecutions are much rarer than the weapons being converted – mainly because they are non-violent crimes and are harder to prosecute. Theft can be done in a matter of minutes making it easy to complete without being detected. When thieves are caught on video, their faces are always hidden, which protects their identity, and the cars they use are often unregistered or stolen. But that hasn’t stopped states like California from enacting new laws to make selling things more difficult.
In 2022, California enacted two new laws hoping to make the sale of convertibles more difficult. The first rule requires recyclers to keep accurate records of the parts they buy and sell. The second law requires that used converters (which can include almost all pirated converters) be sold by authorized parties only. Unfortunately, breaking these rules is only a violation of the law and aggravation of existing violations, which only result in a small fine and/or a long prison term (more than 30 days). In addition, cities like Los Angeles have enacted their own anti-theft laws and ordinances, although the fines and potential jail time may not be severe enough to deter thieves and their accomplices. As the economy nears recession, thieves may still see the risk as worth it, especially since there is no history of prosecution by district attorneys.
Car owners can try to protect their converters by placing shields around them. Auto parts stores offer a variety of models from plastic to thick metal models that require welding. In exchange for a stolen replacement, victims must contact their local police and file a police report that can be sent to their insurance company, which has been paying for the replacement, minus the deductible. Insurance companies often don’t cover the cost of a shield that drivers can get to deter potential thieves.
Another thing that owners can do is buy an EV. EVs don’t have gear shifters because no toxic emissions need to be filtered. Therefore, making an EV switch eliminates the possibility of switch theft and the headache that goes with it. EVs are also good for reducing climate damage by not emitting greenhouse gases. Switching to an EV would also make such a driver eligible for a tax credit of up to $7,500, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
If the owner of the car is lucky enough to be caught and stolen, maybe taking it as a sign from nature to switch to an EV is the best way – and maybe nature will return the favor.