Catalytic Converter Theft Warning Issued for Honda Element Owners

These last couple of years, catalytic converters have been a popular target of motor vehicle vandals.

In many of those cases, the thieves have stuck to vehicles made in the USA.

But now they're focused on Hondas — the Element, specifically — and they're hitting Grant Park, Ormewood Park, Reynoldstown and other neighborhoods in Southeast Atlanta.

It's so bad that Atlata Police Department officials have said it's one of the biggest crime trends hitting the city right now.

Just last week, some 19 vehicles where hit for their catalytic converters, which are part of a vehicle's exhaust system that help convert pollutants to less toxic emissions.

"They are mainly being targeted in the Grant Park area due to a lot of on-street parking," APD Sgt. Gregory Lyon told East Atlanta Patch Wednesday.

"The vehicles in Zone 6 being targeted are almost exclusively Honda Elements."

It's no wonder.

These converters are stolen for the platinum they contain internally, he said.

Like copper thefts from homes and businesses, thieves can sell the platinum for a couple hundred dollars.

Indeed, the platinum thefts are more lucrative than copper because the metal is so much more valuable.

The raw commodity closed Wednesday at $1,472.20 per troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In comparison, copper closed at $3.24 per pound.

Honda Elements and other SUVs are magnets because they sit higher off the ground, making it possible to steal catalytic converters in two minutes or less.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. offers these preventative measures:

• Always park in well-lighted areas
• At shopping centers and other similar parking lots, park close to the entrance of the building or near the access road where there's a lot of traffic
• If you own or work at a business or factory, park within a fenced area that's busy during the day and secured at night
• Engrave your license plate number on the converter to make it traceable
• Purchase a vehicle security system and make sure it’s set to trigger with just the slightest motion
• Visit a local muffler shop and have the converter secured to the vehicle’s frame with a couple of pieces of hardened steel welded to the frame
• Check out the different types of catalytic converter theft deterrent systems at your local auto parts store or online