Catalytic converters continue to be the target of thieves in Cumberland County. Surveillance camera footage showed a male driving up to a church van at Crab Orchard Christian Church last Friday, crawled underneath the vehicle and removed the item. However, the suspect placed the converter on the ground and left. A suspect was named in the incident. In a different case, three of them were taken off vans at Lantana Road Baptist Church last week.

A homeowner on Tabor Loop reported one taken off his truck last week.

So why are catalytic converters being targeted?

Precious metals such as platinum, palladium, rhodium or gold are used as the catalyst. Depending on which metal was used, thieves can sell the converters to metal recyclers for $20 to $200. The recyclers then extract the metal and resell it for as much as $6,000 an ounce, as in the case of rhodium. The crime nationwide has risen with sharply rising metal prices.