the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Teaneck NJ, the Ridgewood blog has been following and reporting on catalytic converter theft over the last 10 years . Now two men have been charged with stealing more than two dozen catalytic converters in Teaneck over the span of two nights in January, the Teaneck police department said Friday.
Police have charged Omar Fernandez, 31, and Gabriel Burgos, 31, of the Bronx, with stealing nine converters on Jan. 21 and 17 more on Jan. 31. Both were charged with 26 counts of theft. Police arrested Fernandez on Thursday and said they are still attempting to locate Burgos.
Both men were also charged with 26 counts of criminal mischief and possessing burglary tools. Police said they believe the pair are part of a larger crew responsible for catalytic converter thefts throughout New Jersey.
People steal catalytic converters for several reasons, including:
- Precious Metals: Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, which have significant market value. Thieves target these devices to extract and sell these metals to scrapyards or illicit buyers for profit.
- Easy Targets: Catalytic converters are located underneath vehicles, making them relatively accessible and easy to remove quickly. They are not typically secured with locks or alarms, which makes them attractive targets for thieves.
- Lack of Traceability: The precious metals inside catalytic converters do not have serial numbers or unique identifiers, making it difficult to track stolen converters. This lack of traceability makes them desirable for thieves seeking to evade detection.
- High Demand: The demand for catalytic converters is driven by the automotive industry’s need for these devices in the production and repair of vehicles. The supply of precious metals is limited, leading to high prices and creating a lucrative market for stolen converters.
- Quick Profit: Thieves can remove a catalytic converter relatively swiftly, often in a matter of minutes, and then sell it for a quick profit. This quick turnaround, combined with the high value of the stolen item, makes it an appealing target for criminals.
- Vulnerable Locations: Some vehicles, such as trucks, SUVs, and hybrid cars, have catalytic converters that are easier to access and remove. Thieves may specifically target these vehicles to increase their chances of a successful theft.
omar and gabriel? nuff said
Political activism and a lot of other nonsense should not be part of the school curriculum. What happened to reading, writing and arithmetic? We’re dumbing down our young people and it’s showing.
Yup.
We are becoming just like Communist China, right down to the Social Scores.