SASKATOON — The theft of catalytic converters has been on the rise and Saskatoon police have recently arrested and charged a total of nine people.
In March of 2022 with the support of SGI, the General Investigations Section, along with members of the SPS Break and Enter Unit, Break and Enter Comprehensive Action Program, and Patrol began an investigation into the rise in thefts of catalytic converters in Saskatoon.
In March and April, eight people were arrested in separate events and collectively face 43 criminal code charges in relation to these types of offences. Charges include; theft of catalytic converters, possession of break and enter tools, mischief under $5000, possession of stolen property, attempted theft of catalytic converters, possession of a forged document, breach of a court order, and possession of a controlled substance.
Additionally, police executed four warrants on behalf of outside agencies and had four judicial authorizations granted.
Through investigation, police also executed two search warrants on May 19, one at a residence in the 600-block Central Avenue and another at a business in the 2000-block 60th Street West. The searches resulted in the seizure of 66 catalytic converters, financial documents, and various electronic equipment. As a result, a 30-year-old Saskatoon man was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime.
In total, nine people have been charged as a result of investigation to date.
According to data provided by SGI, registered claims of catalytic converter thefts have increased in recent years; 29 in 2019, 34 in 2020, 610 in 2021, and 410 year-to-date in 2022. The estimated total incurred as a result of these claims is approximately $2,289,388.
Thieves target catalytic converters specifically because they contain precious metals not necessarily found in all vehicle parts. In order to process the noxious gasses, these parts contain amounts of rhodium, palladium and platinum inside them.
Law enforcement believes that most of these stolen parts get taken to scrap metal dealers or scrap yards, to be weighed and paid out for the metals they contain.
