Oregon, Washington and Pennsylvania were the top three states with an increase in catalytic converter replacements
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Across the U.S., the National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that catalytic converter thefts skyrocketed by 1,215% from 2019 to 2022. But for Pacific Northwestern states Oregon and Washington, the thefts had almost increased six-fold.
In May, auto insurance company Allstate released the latest data on catalytic converter replacements for its customers. From 2019 to 2022, the company says replacements surged by 1,155% — a figure similar to the one reported by NICB.‘I get vulnerable’: New book shares intimate story of Portland Gear’s founding
According to Allstate, the car part entices thieves due to its “precious metals.”
“Catalytic converter thefts exploded during the pandemic,” Vice President of Auto Physical Damage Claims Craig Edmonds said. “Supply chain disruptions raised the value of these parts. And because they’re relatively easy to steal, theft rings have pounced, creating a multimillion-dollar black market enterprise.”