Car part thieves terrorize R’land

RIDGELAND — Police here are investigating a series of catalytic converter thefts reported last Friday morning at apartment complexes across town.

Police Chief John Neal said they had four total thefts reported at three different apartment complexes. 

“Friday morning, April 15, 2022, approximately 0500 hours,” Neal said. “Ridgeland Police Department officers were dispatched to the Pointe Apartments located at 831 Rice Road in reference to a possible theft of parts from a vehicle.”  

Officers arrived and were able to identify a vehicle in the apartment complex missing a catalytic converter. According to Neal, additional complaints were called in to the Ridgeland Police Department throughout the morning from other apartment complexes in the area. 

Neal said Friday that they confirmed two catalytic converters were stolen from cars at The Pointe Apartments, one theft was reported at Legacy Apartments and another single theft was reported at Arbors at the Natchez Trace.

A resident at Legacy Apartments also reported a Honda dirt bike being stolen from the bed of a pick-up truck, Neal said.

“Investigators were called to the complexes and several items of evidence were recovered from the scenes,” Neal said. “These pieces of evidence will be processed for fingerprint identification. Investigators are also working to secure any video evidence that may have captured images of interest.”

Neal said the interest and rise in catalytic converter thefts are due to the price increases of the precious metals contained inside the device. He said these metals include platinum, palladium, and rhodium.  

“The market prices for these metals fluctuate erratically, as well as being dependent on the region in the United States where the automotive devices are sold for scrap,” Neal said.

Catalytic converters are normally removed from a vehicle by using a sawzall cutting device with a sharp blade for penetrating the exhaust pipes on either side of the converter. Neal said It is difficult to capture these thieves in the act because they normally target isolated areas where vehicles are kept. A skilled thief can remove a catalytic converter very quickly, he said. 

Neal said one constant is the amount of noise the thefts create.

“The cutting of the metal creates a loud grinding sound, so we ask residents to listen for these types of noises while they are outside and if they observe suspicious activity, please contact their local police department,” Neal said.

The non-emergency line for RPD is 601-856-2121.