Howard County police have charged two men in a series of catalytic converter thefts in the overnight hours of Aug. 10-11 in Columbia. Police identified 12 victims who reported that their catalytic converters had been stolen from their vehicles. Through investigation, police identified two suspects and linked them to the thefts.
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“The catalytic converter is a part of the vehicle’s exhaust system that contains valuable metals and can be removed in less than two minutes, making it an increasingly popular target for thieves. Like jurisdictions throughout the region and country, Howard County has seen a rise in these types of thefts recently. Thieves tend to target hybrid vehicles and commercial vehicles,” police said today. “Thefts of catalytic converters are on the rise. This part of your vehicle’s exhaust system contains valuable metals and can be removed in less than two minutes. Once stolen, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace. This crime affects commercial and personal vehicles.”
