The UCF Police Department arrested two individuals found with more than 20 stolen catalytic converters in their possession, according to a UCF Alert on Saturday.
The UCF Police Department arrested two individuals found with more than 20 stolen catalytic converters in their possession, according to a UCF Alert on Saturday.
Two Texans were arrested as suspects in stealing catalytic converters at UCF, according to a UCF Alert on March 19.
Officers found the suspects off-campus with more than 20 converters and a firearm, according to the UCF Police Department’s press release. Neither individual had an affiliation with UCF.
The suspects were charged with criminal mischief, petit theft, burglary of a conveyance and possession of burglary tools, according to the release.
Surveillance footage captured the individuals carrying a reciprocating saw and parts of a vehicle exhaust in a UCF parking garage. Detectives then used license plate readers to detect their rental car entering and exiting campus, according to UCFPD’s statement.
The arrests took place one day after UCFPD warned students about a series of catalytic converter thefts on campus. At least six individuals reported that their converters were stolen from vehicles parked in UCF garages and lots on March 17 and 18, according to a UCF Alert.
The rash of thefts was the second of its kind in about two months, with NSM Today reporting that four converters were stolen from cars parked on the B and C surface lots in early February. All of the vehicles targeted at that time were Toyota Priuses.
Amanda Sellers, UCFPD public information officer, said in an email that catalytic converter theft seems to be a new trend on campus, with 14 converters stolen in 2022. Only one instance of converter theft was reported in 2021, and none in previous years.
Bryan Gifford, sales manager at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center on East Colonial Drive, said thieves often dismantle the converters to obtain expensive precious metals like palladium, rhodium and platinum.
“Theft is very high these days,” Gifford said. “They cut them off, and I believe they take them out of state to Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, to places that don’t monitor where the pieces come from.”
Gifford said he recommends students to park in well-lit areas or purchase alarm systems for their vehicles. He also said individuals can install cages around their converters to prevent theft.
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