On the Line: Copper wire theft and vandalism on the rise across Canada
Ottawa, Ontario — Copper wire thefts have been steadily on the rise across North America, thanks to recent upswings in its selling price. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta have all reported recent increases in the frequency of copper wire thefts on businesses, homes and construction sites alike. Copper is most commonly found […]
Misapplied Pressure: Alberta converter theft act hampers legal sales while black market thrives, report says
Edmonton, Alberta — The Protecting Alberta Industry from Theft Act is now more than two years old, and while the legislative changes have made the process of buying catalytic converters more stringent, Albertan auto recyclers are voicing concerns that such sales are still happening regularly—albeit, under the table and off the books. A recent CBC report […]
Crunching the Numbers: Rates of catalytic converter theft higher than what the numbers reflect, report says
Washington D.C., United States — A new report from the U.S.’s National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program (NSVRP) gets down to brass tacks on how catalytic converter thefts are costing the insurance industry, and by extension, everyday drivers, more than what initial estimates may reflect. Based on data collected by State Farm, catalytic converter thefts are […]
Lucasville Looters: More than 60 catalytic converters stolen from school buses in N.S.
Halifax, Nova Scotia — Halifax District RCMP is investigating the theft of more than 60 catalytic converters from school buses in Lucasville. On June 30, Police responded to a report of theft of catalytic converters from a property in Lucasville. More than 60 catalytic converters had been removed from buses on the property. This year […]
Precious Cargo: Police catch catalytic converter thieves red handed
Burnaby, British Columbia — Catalytic converter thieves were caught red-handed at a traffic stop by Burnaby police. The two men stopped by officers were already known to steal catalytic converters, and one was already told by the police previously that he wasn’t allowed to carry the cat-cutting tools. Burnaby police have since seized the tools […]
International Eye: IAATI outlines legislature to combat catalytic converter thefts, calls on authorities for action
Clinton, New York — The International Auto Theft Investigators Association (IAATI) has taken the first steps to address the ‘epidemic problem’ of catalytic converter theft with new legislation. The IAATI’s proposed law enforcement strategies include, but are not limited to: Educate the public on the importance of measures to help prevent the theft of vehicles […]
Palladium Prowlers: Catalytic converter thefts again on the rise from coast to coast
Ottawa, Ontario — Catalytic converter thefts are again on the rise across Canada, with authorities reporting strings of crimes in New Brunswick, Ontario and Manitoba in recent weeks. The thieves target the exhaust system part for its precious metal components, which include rhodium, palladium and platinum—rarities that can be sold on the black market for […]
A Catalyst for Crime: PEI RCMP charge five in connection with converter thefts, more than $100K in damage
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island – A rise in catalytic converter thefts in Canada’s smallest province has triggered a crackdown from the PEI RCMP on the lucrative illegal trend, signalled by a number of charges laid over the last three months. While police did manage to recover some of the stolen catalytic converters, all said, the thefts […]
Cracking Down on Converters: Alberta’s proposed Bill 25 aims to reduce metal theft
Calgary, Alberta — The Albertan government has introduced a new measure aimed at tackling metal thefts, particularly in the automotive industry. On June 18, Bill 25: Protecting Alberta Industry From Theft Act, 2020, was introduced to establish new measures that will make it more difficult for criminals to sell stolen metal for scrap. “Our government has […]
