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Partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds light and variable..

Partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.

Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service. Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise in the area, according to police.

Bill Williams/Columbia-Greene Media Catalytic converters, like the one pictured at Northeast Auto Parts in Hudson, are being stolen from area vehicles.

Bill Williams/Columbia-Greene Media Police are investigating numerous complaints of stolen catalytic converters from vehicles throughout Columbia County.

Photo courtesy of Tribune News Service. Catalytic converter thefts are on the rise in the area, according to police.

Bill Williams/Columbia-Greene Media Catalytic converters, like the one pictured at Northeast Auto Parts in Hudson, are being stolen from area vehicles.

Bill Williams/Columbia-Greene Media Police are investigating numerous complaints of stolen catalytic converters from vehicles throughout Columbia County.

Authorities are warning local residents of a rise in thefts of catalytic converters from parked cars and trucks.

State police in Livingston are investigating numerous complaints of stolen catalytic converters from vehicles throughout the Columbia County area, said Aaron Hicks, public information officer for state police Troop K.

The majority of the thefts are centered in the Ghent and Philmont areas, but the number is rising in other areas as well, said Beau Duffy, director of information for state police.

State police in Catskill are not investigating similar cases in Greene County, Duffy said.

The catalytic converter is part of the exhaust system that’s necessary for a car to pass safety and emissions inspections in many states. Some vehicles have more than one, and replacing stolen converters can cost as much as $1,500 to $3,000, according to Consumer Reports.

The thefts are being committed at all hours of the day. Vehicles that are parked close to roadways or have high-valued catalytic converters are more likely to be targeted, Hicks said.

High-value converters contain larger amounts of platinum and are usually found on high-priced vehicles, Duffy said.

Trucks, which are higher off the ground, are at greater risk for theft because the converters are easier for thieves to reach.

The Toyota Prius, a popular gasoline-electric hybrid with two converters, is a favorite target of thieves. Also at risk are vehicles parked on the street and trucks parked overnight in unattended lots, Consumer Reports said.

Catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium and rhodium, all expensive precious metals that react with exhaust emissions, heat up a ceramic honeycomb element and convert harmful combustion byproducts such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide into less harmful gases.

Prices for the three metals have spiked over the past few years. Price for an ounce of platinum is $1,000, while palladium costs more than $2,300 and rhodium, which is extremely rare, costs more than $20,000, Consumer Reports said.

State police strongly encourage vehicle owners always to lock their vehicles and park in well-lit conspicuous locations. Exterior sensor lighting, driveway alarms and video surveillance systems may also help prevent your vehicle from being targeted or aid the criminal investigation should a theft take place, Hicks said.

If a thief can reach the underside of a vehicle, converters are easy to remove with battery-operated power tools or, in some cases, simple hand tools. Scrapped converters can then be processed to remove the precious metals, which is what makes them so valuable to scrap metal dealers and thieves, according to Consumer Reports.

The public can assist in preventing these thefts by remaining vigilant and report any signs of suspicious activity immediately to local law enforcement, whether it is a person, vehicle or noise, Hicks said.

Police have issued a list of tips that vehicle owners can use to help prevent catalytic converter thefts.

■ Always park in well-lighted areas.

■ At shopping centers and other similar parking lots, park close to the entrance of the building or near the access road where there’s a lot of traffic.

■ If you own or work at a business or factory, park within a fenced area that’s busy during the day and secured at night.

■ Engrave your license plate number on the converter to make it traceable.

■ Purchase a vehicle security system and make sure it’s set to trigger with just the slightest motion.

■ Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a hardened steel welded to the frame.

■ Examine the different types of catalytic converter theft deterrent systems at your local auto parts store or online.

For information related to a previously reported crime, contact state police at Livingston Bureau of Criminal Investigations at 518-851-2893. To report a past crime, contact the New York State Police at 845-677-7300. For an emergency response, call 911, Hicks said.

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