Legislation aimed at curbing catalytic converter theft

As catalytic converter crime continues to rise, so does the legislation intended to curve the theft of the parts. On March 14, Texarkana, Texas Police Department, issued a release asking for citizens to help find a man who committed multiple thefts in the area. While in Cass County, Sheriff Larry Rowe said there had not been any catalytic converter thefts to his office recently, but the county has been affected by this particular crime. In October of 2021, the City of Atlanta fell victim to their work trucks being targeted.

While Texas has become the second largest state for Catalytic converter theft, Texas Legislators appear to be turning up the heat in part to the officer who died recently in a shootout when a group of people was confronted with catalytic converter theft in Houston. In a release sent by Senator Paul Bettencourt's office, it was announced that a crackdown on Catalytic Converter theft was “adopted by Senate Criminal Justice Committee 7-0 Senators Middleton and Bettencourt join onto Senator Alvarado’s SB 224, named for Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez who was killed trying to stop a catalytic converter theft.”

In the release it was published that “the Criminal Justice Committee chaired by Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston), passed a serious crackdown bill on catalytic converter theft; SB 224 by Senator Carol Alvarado (D-Houston). Senator Middleton’s (R-Galveston) SB 432 and Senator Bettencourt’s (R-Houston) SB 465 were combined into Senator Alvarado’s SB 224 in a Committee Substitute as the Senate’s Bipartisan voice determined to stop these statewide catalytic converter thefts.

“Chairman Whitmire remarked, ‘No pride of authorship, let’s just get the job done.’

“Senator Alvarado named the bill after a constituent and Harris County Deputy who was shot to death during a catalytic converter crime. “Almost a year ago today, Harris County Deputy Darren Almendarez was shot and killed when he interrupted three men attempting to steal a catalytic converter from his personal vehicle outside a grocery store. His wife Flor was with him and she’s here today,” said Senator Alvarado.

“SB 224 is enhanced by Senator Bettencourt’s SB 465 language that creates a criminal offense for someone with unauthorized possession of a catalytic converter and allows catalytic converter theft to be prosecuted as organized crime. “Senator Alvarado highlighted our bill’s criminal mischief statute and engaging in organized criminal activity as important additions to SB 224. The theft losses from these criminal rings amount to over 100 million dollars a year in my estimation,” said Senator Paul Bettencourt.”

In Texarkana, the police department reached out to the public on social media asking for help finding an individual in the theft of catalytic converters. “Can you help us figure out who this guy is? He's kept himself pretty busy lately breaking into storage units on both sides of Texarkana and we know that he's stolen at least one catalytic converter off a vehicle.

“Detective Jarrod Dean has been working on the case and got some pretty darn good pictures of the suspect at a gas station on the Arkansas side. Unfortunately, he hasn't been able to identify him yet, but we're hoping that someone here knows exactly who he is.”

In October of 2021, there was confirmed catalytic converter theft in Atlanta by then-Police Chief Robin Betts. The City of Atlanta and several local businesses had been recently hit. Among the thefts were trucks from the City of Atlanta which were protected in a gated area. That however did not stop the thieves, as the parts were removed. Betts also said that regionally Spring Hill, LA had over 20 vehicle part thefts.

According to Farmers Insurance, the reason for the demand is that “catalytic converters contain platinum, palladium, and rhodium — precious metals more valuable than gold. (As of May 2021, rhodium was valued at $27,900 per ounce, palladium at $2,896 per ounce, and platinum at $1,227 per ounce.)” “Their value has escalated in recent years as automakers use more precious metals in catalytic converters to further reduce emissions.”

Allstate Insurance explains that “you may not be able to tell your catalytic converter was stolen by looking at your car, but you will know as soon as you start the engine. When the catalytic converter has been removed, your vehicle will make a loud roaring sound that will get louder as you push the gas pedal, says The Spruce. Your car might also make a sputtering sound as you change speed, or you'll notice it's not driving smoothly.”

“A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel, including lean-burn engines, and sometimes on kerosene heaters and stoves.”

In the press release noted earlier, “Several catalytic converter industry dealers and recyclers testified in addition to overwhelming support from law enforcement for SB 224. However, the most powerful testimony came from Flor Zarzoza, the widow of Deputy Almendarez, whose testimony was devastating as she emphasized what she faced in bond hearings having to see the three alleged perpetrators. She concluded by saying her husband told her previously to “never give up.” She also testified that yesterday she was in court and saw alleged catalytic converter thieves who were caught with cut catalytic converters and weapons being released on bond by Judge Robert Johnson, State District Court 177 in Harris County.

Dean Whitmire concluded, ‘You give us the energy we need…we’re not going to give up.’

“SB 224 will move to the Senate Floor for final passage.”

House Bill 4110 signed in June of 2021 and went into effect September 1 makes it a felony to buy or sell stolen catalytic converters. Senate Bill 224 would make it a state jail felony for anyone who is found in possession of a stolen catalytic converter.