A catalytic converter is found inside the exhaust system of a car and converts environmentally hazardous exhaust emissions into less harmful gasses.
This process uses precious metals like platinum, palladium, or rhodium. The value of these metals is high, making catalytic converters a target item for theft and illegal sale.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), a non-profit organization which identifies, prevents, and deters insurance fraud and crime, over 64,000 reported catalytic converter thefts occurred in 2022; while the NICB found only 16,660 claims were made involving this specific theft in 2020.
When someone’s catalytic converter is cut out of their vehicle, they are tasked with replacing the part but also finding alternative transportation. The average cost of a replacement can range between $1,000 to $3,500 depending on vehicle type, according to NICB.
High rates of theft nationwide have sprung legislative efforts across the country.
The Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has had 15 reported thefts relating to non-ferrous metals from January 1, 2023 to present. Seven of these cases are still active and there has been one arrest for possession/transportation of non-ferrous metal (a metal not containing iron) without a permit.
Only a permitted secondary metals recycler can purchase detached catalytic converters such as licensed vehicle repair shops or parts dealers. Many requirements are needed for legal sale including the date which the catalytic converter was removed, who removed it, and the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle it was removed from.
It is illegal for any individual other than a permitted secondary metals recycler to purchase or attempt to purchase a detached catalytic converter or any non-ferrous part of a catalytic converter.
On April 24, 2024, a case involving the theft of catalytic converters came before the Barnwell County Court.
Joshua Seth Moody, 27, waived presentment and venue to plead guilty to Beaufort County indictments. Moody was charged with four counts of injury to property to obtain non-ferrous metals unlawfully alongside a Barnwell County drug possession charge in July 2022.
The state recommended three years probation to run concurrent to a previous probationary term out of Columbia County, Georgia for again attempting to obtain catalytic converters unlawfully in January 2023. Moody did one year in prison and was granted a three-year probation for this charge.
The judge accepted the state’s recommendation and sentenced Moody to three years probation with random drug and alcohol testing. Moody’s guilty plea also required him to pay over $6,000 in restitution.
Once out on probation, Moody was arrested on May 10, 2024 after a Marlboro Avenue resident caught footage of a near theft on security cameras.
Moody was charged with possession of a controlled substance, injury to property to obtain nonferrous metals unlawfully, and malicious injury to personal property. He was granted a $9,000 bond for these charges that had yet to be posted at the time of publication.
