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Grapevine has seen an increase in the theft of catalytic converters this year, police say.
The Grapevine Police Department has received 67 reports of stolen catalytic converters in 2020, up from nine in 2019.
Workers begin to remove shingles from what is known as Shingle Mountain, a pile
According to department spokeswoman Amanda McNew, the increase in thefts is attributed to the rising price of precious metals. The department said that this is a trend across Texas, and other cities have reported similar significant increases in catalytic converter thefts.
The department said most thefts occur when vehicles are left somewhere for an extended period of time, and they most frequently are stolen from SUVs and trucks because they are easier for thieves to crawl beneath.
McNew said that most thieves will steal multiple catalytic converters at once, from a number of cars left in a single parking lot.
“The best preventive measure you can take is to park inside a garage or secure area, or in a well-lit place,” the department said in a statement.
Police said vehicle owners can have extra metal welded onto their cars to make the converters more difficult to steal, or have an identification number etched on the catalytic converter. If one is stolen, a loud noise will occur upon starting the vehicle.
The department maintains that it is still safe to drive to a mechanic or repair shop should this occur, but they encourage residents to report the stolen parts.