Police in Lino Lakes say it’s not a significant problem there, but it is on the increase. They are urging car owners to pay attention when they hear something suspicious.
“There is a common tool that’s used to remove these catalytic converters, it’s a reciprocating saw,” says Lino Lakes Police Sergeant Curt Boehme. “It has a very distinctive noise. It is going to be a very loud tool. If you ever hear something that seems odd, either in your neighborhood or out at a retail shopping center, we want you to call 9-1-1. It’s also helpful to look for license plates, get descriptions of people or the vehicle that they are driving in.”
Without confronting the thieves, police would like homeowners to be a good witness by getting that information.
One theft in Lino Lakes was caught on a security camera. It took only a matter of seconds to remove a converter from a car parked on the street. The footage includes the sound of an electric saw. Police say you could mistake that sound for something else, like someone changing a tire.
“It could sound something like an impact wrench, but you should be able to hear something different than what your normal surroundings are. It’s going to sound like a power tool,” said Boehme.
Sgt. Boehme says a quick response may be the best chance at catching the thieves.
“It is difficult to follow up on these cases after the fact. These catalytic converters don’t have anything identifying on them so it’s always hard to trace that catalytic converter back to your vehicle if its stolen.”
The regular session of the Minnesota Legislature ended without a change in the law. A spokesperson for the Insurance Federation of Minnesota says they’ve been assured it will be addressed in the current special session. Mark Kulda says one reason the problem persists, is because the price of some of the precious metals inside the converter has doubled in the past year.
Police offered these tips for protecting your car:
- Park in the garage if possible.
- If you must park in the driveway leave the outdoor house lights on.
- If you are at a business, park near the building or near security cameras.
