Okanagan Boys and Girls Club has 3 catalytic converters stolen

Photo: Jarrod Stocker

The Okanagan Boys and Girls Club is feeling targeted after thieves stole three catalytic converters from them in nine days.

Jarrod Stocker, director of facilities and transportation at the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, tells Castanet "we had a couple of similar thefts in Vernon back in October and now three in the past nine days."

Stocker says the cost to replace the catalytic converter on one of their buses is $1,900.

"I know, because we just did it."

Stocker says thieves seem to target Fords and Chevrolets like the ones they use for bussing at the Boys and Girls Club.

"The thing is, the money we have to spend to fix our busses is money we can't put towards programs," Stocker says they typically don't use insurance because the deductible is close to the replacement cost.

He says they have video of the thieves and he says it's amazing how quickly they manage to get the catalytic converters off the vehicle, "it takes them less than three minutes."

Stocker also says the thieves are well disguised so it's difficult to identify anyone.

Kelowna RCMP is working with the Boys and Girls Club on the latest theft which occurred on Thursday at the Graham Street location. This is after two other thefts on January 6 and on January 13. All of the thefts occurred overnight.

“These investigations are ongoing and we are appealing for anyone with knowledge of these crimes to please come forward,” says Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy of the Kelowna RCMP. “We would also like to remind everyone to call us immediately if you see any suspicious activity.”

Stocker is hoping that by sharing his story, people will keep an eye out and that they will have a better chance of catching the culprits.

Catalytic converters change engine pollutants into less harmful emissions. Because they contain precious metals such as palladium, rhodium and platinum, they are an attractive target for thieves.

Theft of catalytic converters has jumped in Canada and worldwide and has prompted some municipalities to mandate recyclers document where the converter came from in an effort to cut down on black market activity.

Police in North Vancouver released a video on Twitter to demonstrate the sound residents might hear if someone is working to get the catalytic converter off a car in their neighbourhood.

If you hear this on the street at 4 a.m., call 9-1-1. It's a thief stealing a catalytic converter from under a car. A cat reduces exhaust pollutants. Thieves sell them to a recycling facility for the metal they contain. Read more here from last month: https://t.co/7TEXAoY50T pic.twitter.com/WbEibDBXpg

— North Vancouver RCMP (@nvanrcmp) July 11, 2020