THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 2, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
Fox News
Fox News
11 Mar 2023


TEXAS MAN STRANGLED MOM BECAUSE SHE WOULDN'T GIE HIM HER CAR: POLICE

Thefts of catalytic converters are surging across the nation as thieves seek out precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium that fill the inside of the antipollution car part. 

Thefts of catalytic converters are surging across the nation as thieves seek out precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium that fill the inside of the antipollution car part.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Autoshop owner Mike Abouharb shared that he found the man’s body when he arrived at work in the morning. 

"I didn’t even get close to him," Abouharb told WTOC-TV. "I called the police right away."

VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER INDICTED FOR ALLEGEDLY EXPLOITING UNCLE WITH ALZHEIMER'S: REPORTS

Police ruled the death accidental, sharing that Smith’s death was "the result of an attempted catalytic converter theft."

"Is it worth it? To steal a catalytic converter to sell for $100," Abouharb told WTOC. "To lose your life? It’s not."

Vehicle owners are having to pay thousands of dollars to replace the stolen parts from theft targeting catalytic converters.

Vehicle owners are having to pay thousands of dollars to replace the stolen parts from theft targeting catalytic converters. ( Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A brand new catalytic converter sits on the floor at Johnny Franklin's Muffler in San Rafael, California. 

A brand new catalytic converter sits on the floor at Johnny Franklin's Muffler in San Rafael, California.  (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images))

Catalytic converters are part of a car's exhaust system and control emissions. They have valuable metals, like platinum and rhodium, that criminals can cut out in seconds and sell to scrapyards.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Each catalytic converter can fetch more than $1,000 on the black market, and their lack of VIN information or a serial number makes them hard to track. 

Sarah Rumpf is a writer on the breaking news team for Fox News Digital. You can reach her on Twitter at @rumpfsarahc