GRAND JUNCTION, Colo (KREX) — Colorado’s Auto Theft Prevention authority reports catalytic converter thefts soared more than 5% from 2019 to 2021. To bring the numbers to light, in 2019, thieves stole 189 catalytic converters. That number jumped to more than eleven hundred in 2020 and then last year. Thieves stole 9,000 catalytic converters.

The metals in catalytic converters make it a prime target. Right now, platinum is worth $980. palladium more than 2,000, rhodium was worth a whopping $15 grand until it soared to 25 grand just this month.

A grand valley mechanic tells us the calls are already coming in. Jim Robbins, Manager at A1 Muffler, and Brake Service says, “thefts are up major. Unfortunately, in fact, I have fielded three calls, and it’s only Tuesday. Just this week we are getting calls between myself and the other large muffler shop here in town, which is Scotty’s. We are probably 3 to 5 calls a week now about stolen catalytic converters.”