Cumberland County investigators continue to see a rash of catalytic converters being cut off automobiles. In this case yesterday (October 19, 2020), three of them were taken off vans belonging to Lantana Road Baptist Church. The same type of incident happened at the same location three months ago. This time, the suspect was captured on video surveillance and authorities are working to identify him.

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.