Rise in Metal Prices Fuels Spate of Catalytic Converter Thefts

Detective Chris Dengeles of the Arlington police auto theft unit points to the economy as one reason for the popularity of the catalytic converter heists. The devices are "relatively easy to remove and are worth something," he said. A thief can target a number of cars at once, and "it's easy to cash in."

Fire hydrants also qualify as easy targets, but they are less lucrative than converters. Thieves get about $10 for the brass nuts, fire officials say, but they are rendering the hydrants inoperable in the process, creating a public safety risk.

Prince William County police said about 40 of the parts were stolen from hydrants in the county this year. A suspect was arrested last month in the thefts.

"We take this extremely seriously," Assistant Fire Chief Hadden Culp said.

Motorists are paying a price. Bobby Bell, service manager for Alexandria Toyota, said that in the past two months the dealership has repaired four or five cars whose emissions devices have been stolen -- mostly sport-utility vehicles and trucks, which are "easy to crawl under. They can get it out within two minutes."

Bell said the repairs can cost $500 to $2,500 and are covered by insurance.

Unfortunately for motorists, there is not much they can do to protect themselves, police said. Arlington's Dengeles advises owners to keep vehicles within earshot and in better light if possible.

In other words, just use "good old common sense," he said.