Over the past 48 hours, Newark Police have received 6 reports of thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles. Five of the thefts occurred during the overnight hours, while one theft occurred during daytime hours. Notably, five of the involved vehicles were Toyota Priuses.
The following is a breakdown of the recent cases:
Location | Timeframe | Vehicle Type |
300-block Hillside Road | Overnight | Toyota Prius |
Wharton Drive – (3) reports | Overnight | Toyota Prius |
Christina Mill Drive | Overnight | Toyota Prius |
Park & Ride (E. Chestnut Hill Rd.) | Daytime | Ford Escape |
The Newark Police Department needs the public’s assistance to stop these crimes. Please call Newark Police immediately if you see suspicious activity related to thefts of catalytic converters. This activity may include:
Likely targets of catalytic converter thefts include vehicles that sit higher off the ground like an SUV. The Toyota Prius and Honda Element are also targets due to the amount of precious metals in the catalytic converter.
Some tips to avoid being the victim of a catalytic converter theft include:
Additional information about catalytic converter thefts can be found here: carfax.com, kbb.com