The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) would like to advise residents of an observed spike in catalytic converter thefts.
This trend is being observed across North America however in Halton there has been a particularly large amount of thefts in Milton and Halton Hills. Between March 1 and April 12, 2022, 29 catalytic converters were stolen in 1 District (Milton and Halton Hills).
A significant portion of these thefts are occuring on weekends and almost all of them occur overnight. Thieves are targeting vehicles parked in quiet industrial lots and large apartment buildings however these thefts can occur anywhere.
It can take a thief as little as 60 seconds to remove a vehicle’s catalytic converter.
The precious metals inside a catalytic converter unit have significantly increased in value likely contributing to surge in thefts.
HRPS officers are conducting targeted patrols in industrial areas, self-storage units and parking lots throughout the region however residents are urged to take extra precautions and report any suspicious activity to police.
Police recommend taking the following steps (if possible):
Vehicles should be parked in locked, well-lit areas
Parking vehicles in a way that makes it harder to access their underside, for example, against a wall or by other vehicles
Vehicle alarms and CCTV cameras can also act as a deterrent to thieves
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 1 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2416.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers. "See something? Hear something? Know something? Contact Crime Stoppers" at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.ca.
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