Catalytic converter thefts appear to be creeping up again, despite a 2023 state law that put more restrictions on scrap metal dealers in the state.
In St. Paul, Deputy Police Chief Kurt Hallstrom says thefts are up slightly in recent months.
"Unfortunately this is an act against our community that, you know, it requires the community to pay attention," he says. "And call these in, in the moment. Making a report after the fact, there's often not any solvability factors other than cameras and things to solve these crimes."
Hallstrom says, like copper wire, the market for the metals in catalytic converters is cyclical.
"Unfortunately, the cost to society far outweighs the pennies on the dollar in which the thieves are getting on these," he adds.
Hallstrom says it's still too easy for thieves to simply cross the border to other states that don't have the restrictions on scrap metal dealers like Minnesota does.
The State Legislature passed a new state law during the 2023 session to try and curb these activities, and put more restrictions on what scrap metal dealers in Minnesota are allowed to accept.
Hallstrom is in charge of tracking and fighting the problem in his city.
"I think it certainly helped in the effort to combat the catalytic converter theft, but things get forgotten," says Hallstrom. "There's a lot of places in which people can dispose of, or get rid of, these items outside the state of Minnesota, unfortunately as well."
