Catalytic converter thefts exhaust Tampa Bay

• While thefts are down so far in 2023 after a nationwide surge last year, they're still almost 21 times higher than in 2019, per an August report from BeenVerified.
• Lawmakers across many states, including Florida, are aiming to combat the phenomenon with legislation and enforcement.

Catch up quick: From Minnesota, to Colorado, Virginia, Texas and beyond, catalytic converter thefts skyrocketed in the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Not even the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile was safe. Its catalytic converter was stolen at a February stop in Las Vegas.

Zoom in: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the "Catalytic Converter Antitheft Act" in May, which restricts who can buy and sell detached catalytic converters.

• That didn't stop a spike in thefts in Polk County in July. Before the law was signed, Bradenton had a spree in March. Port Richey and Tampa were hit hard last year.

Be smart: AAA started a theft prevention program in Tampa and Clearwater earlier this year. Customers, including non-members, can get their car's catalytic converter registered with a national crime prevention database, which is accessible by authorities and recyclers.

By the numbers: The National Insurance Crime Bureau recorded 64,701 insurance claims for converter thefts last year, up significantly from 16,660 claims in 2o20.

• That's probably an undercount. The bureau's reports leave out other thefts reported to law enforcement or thefts from uninsured vehicles.
• In 2022, the Justice Department said they had taken down a $545 million catalytic converter theft ring and made searches, arrests and seizures across at least nine states.

Between the lines: Catalytic converters contain tiny portions of rare, valuable precious metals that can be recycled and resold.

• The converter can be sawed off beneath the car in just minutes and the thieves are hard to track.