CAMDEN — At least three residences were hit last night in downtown Camden by thieves intent on stealing catalytic converters from beneath pickups, specifically Toyotas. One occurred on Pearl Street, the other on nearby Spruce Street, and still another in the immediate residential area. Camden police also report that another catalytic converter theft took place last week.

Odette and Clive Brown discovered that their SR5 Toyota pickup’s exhaust system had been dismembered sometime during the night when they turned over the engine just before 9 a.m., Sept. 14.

“We were leaving to go to our business and hopped in,” she said. “As we started the truck, it made a horrendous noise. We just had the entire exhaust system replaced. We looked at each other and said, ‘oh no.’”

Clive got down underneath the pickup where it became quickly evident that someone had made a clean cut of the catalytic converter, removing a section approximately two and half feet in length from the exhaust pipe.

A catalytic converter is a mandatory pollution prevention unit that helps to convert hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides from unburned gasoline and the combustion process into less harmful compounds before being released into the atmosphere.

The converters use platinum and palladium as catalysts, which are coated onto a ceramic base and installed into a section that is attached to the exhaust pipe. That platinum and other metals are what draws thieves to steal the converters and sell the metal to scrap dealers.

According to catalyticconvertertheft.com, the converters may also contain gold and rhodium. Catalytic converter thefts have been reported across the country over the past several years.

In Camden, the thefts have all been reported by owners of Toyota pickups with a vintage of mid- to late-1990s. The scrap value of these particular converters is estimated to be between $150 and $1,500.

Odette Brown said she went downstairs at 6 a.m. to go for a run and found her dog looking out the front window, which was unusual because he normally sleeps in the back of the house. She believes the theft occurred sometime between 10:30 p.m. and dawn.

The Browns depend on their truck when transporting furniture for their business, Fair Cape Woodworks, on West Street in Rockport. She estimates that replacement of the converter will cost between $250 and $400.

Camden police are asking that any other incidents of converter thefts be reported to the Police Department, 236-7967. They also encourage residents to report any associated suspicious activity to them by calling Knox Regional Communications Center at 911.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.

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