DETROIT (WWJ) – The search is on for a group of suspects seen on camera stealing catalytic converters from school buses.
Detroit police released photos of the suspects, who were seen in a school bus parking lot around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 24. The buses were parked in the 12600 block of Westwood Street, near I-96 and Evergreen Road on the city's west side.
Authorities have not said how many catalytic converters were stolen, but are asking the public for tips in solving the case.
Authorities say the photos are hard to see, but anyone who may recognize the suspects or knows something about the crime is asked to call the Detroit Police Department’s 6th Precinct at 313-596-5640 or Crime Stoppers of Michigan at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle’s exhaust system and often closely resembles a standard muffler. It is designed to remove pollutants from a car’s exhaust.
They’re popular targets for thieves because they contain small amounts of rare and precious metals, including platinum. Officials say these thefts often occur in the middle of the night and can go undetected until the vehicle is started in the morning.
Back in December, the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services offered a number of tips to protect against catalytic converter thefts as Metro Detroit sees an increase in these thefts.
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