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The growing demand for stolen precious metals contained in catalytic vehicle converters has spawned two bills that would make the theft of catalytic converters a Class C crime and would require more documentation from Hawaii sellers and scrap dealers willing to buy them.
Thefts from catalytic converters – especially from Honda Elements – continued to increase after a 2019 Honolulu Star-Advertiser report on the phenomenon.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals like platinum to help filter out toxic gases from exhaust emissions.
Between December 1, 2020 and January 31, 289 catalytic converter thefts occurred on Oahu, mainly in Kalihi and Kapolei, according to state representative Jackson Sayama’s office, (D, Palolo-St. Louis Heights-Kaimuki), which presented Bill 446 of the Chamber.
Sayama said he wanted to create a new category of crime specifically for theft of catalytic converter for crime and create a better paper trail because of the financial burden on families, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s a burden on the lifestyle,” Sayama told Star-Advertiser. “I want to give families a sense of security and so that they don’t worry about the car breaking down, when they already have enough to worry about in this pandemic.”
The HB 446 would classify the theft of the catalytic converter as a Class C crime. This would require sellers to provide vehicle records, such as name, address, vehicle registration and driver’s license to the buyer.
The Senate is considering a complementary bill, the Senate Bill 55.
If the seller of a catalytic converter does not provide all documents, the buyer must refuse and report the attempted sale to the police. Buyers who do not meet the standards face potential fines of no less than $ 100 and no more than $ 2,000.
HB 446 is scheduled to be heard at 2 pm today before the Chamber’s Committee on Trade and Consumer Protection.
Phillip Fox, owner of Capitol Auto Service in Waipio, has two vans in his store waiting to replace the catalytic converters. One belongs to a Korean Baptist church and the other to the business next door.
In 2019, Honda Elements was the favorite target of catalytic thieves because of the easy access provided by the vehicle’s high height.
Now Fox said the thieves “diversified their portfolio” by adding Toyota Corollas, Honda Odysseys, SUVs and others.
A car owner even had a catalytic converter stolen from outside the Fox store in December, after the owner towed it for repair while the store was closed.
In 2019, Fox saw at least two vehicles a week without catalytic converters. Now he receives five to six a week.
Catalytic converters are the easiest part to steal because they are located at the bottom of the vehicle, according to thenewswheel.com. They typically weigh just 8 to 10 pounds.
“Anyone can steal a catalytic converter in a minute or two,” Fox said. “You can lift it with one hand.”
While a thief can sell a stolen catalytic converter for $ 40 to $ 50, Fox said replacing it can cost a vehicle owner hundreds of dollars – even with insurance.
“I’m sorry for these people,” said Fox. “Some of them have a $ 1,000 deductible on their insurance, and some people don’t have insurance for their cars. Repairing and replacing the catalytic converter costs about $ 1,200 to $ 1,300. It’s a lot of money. “