Regardless of economic conditions, theft seems to be a scourge that doesn’t go away. Normally though, the police come to the aid of the victims. This time, the police department itself is the victim of catalytic converter theft and it’s asking for assistance to catch the criminals.
Catalytic converters can be worth more than $1,000 even when used due to their internal components, specifically, precious metals that go for top dollar. According to a new report from MissionLocal, four marked SFPD vehicles had their catalytic converters stolen sometime before September 12th at 1 p.m. That’s when an officer discovered that a marked police truck was missing the notoriously valuable emissions control device.
“On September 12, 2022, at approximately 1 p.m., a San Francisco Police Officer discovered a marked police truck parked in the area of 16th Street and De Haro Street had its catalytic converter stolen,” said the SFPD media relations department. “The officer inspected other police vehicles, and discovered that another marked police truck and two marked police vans also had their catalytic converters stolen.”
Read More: Over $1 Million Worth Of Catalytic Converters Seized In Massive Houston Bust
Complete and utter lawlessness!
How else does one explain the balls it took to steal catalytic converters from fully marked police cruisers 😳😳😳😳https://t.co/WR4jtDnY12
— Stanley Roberts (@StanleyRoberts) September 14, 2022
Somewhat shockingly, the building where the crime took place is the Special Operations Bureau building at 17th and DeHaro in San Francisco. That building is home to the local SWAT Team and the Bomb Squad. “The people engaging in this activity really don’t think much of the police if they think they can steal catalytic converters from the best of us,” said an SFPD higher-up to Mission Local.
Despite calls to the public to help find the criminals, some at the SFPD evidently don’t sound too positive about their apprehension. No arrests have been made and Mission Local reports that one officer actually said “They’ll get away with it too… And this is not the first incident.” Police Officers have had their personal vehicles broken into at the same location in the past.
According to local news station KRON4, the regularity with which catalytic converters are being stolen is so bad that South San Francisco has an ordinance making it illegal to even have a used catalytic converter in your possession. One vehicle suspected of being used by a catalytic converter thief had no less than 14 of the used devices in it when found.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
