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Sep 25, 2007 12:05 am US/Central
Thieves Steal From Under The Hood At Park & Rides
by Esme Murphy
Mounds View, Minn. (WCCO) ―
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In addition to platinum which sells for about $1,300 an ounce, the catalytic converter contains rhodium and palladium. At a scrap yard each converter sells for $60 to $100 each. (File)
CBS
Police say thieves are targeting vehicles at least three park & rides and they aren't after anything inside the car. They want a key piece of equipment under the cars hood: the catalytic converter.
"SUVs are seem to be targeted a little more frequently," said Mounds View Deputy Police Chief Tom Kinney.
However, Kinney said any car can be a target. Three converters were cut off cars as they sat in the Mounds View Park & Ride on County Road H near the southbound ramp to Interstate 35W.
"It was a pretty crappy situation but what can you do?" said Nomanda Wienke, one of the victims. She now has to pay $900 for a new catalytic converter.
In addition to platinum which sells for about $1,300 an ounce, the catalytic converter contains rhodium and palladium. At a scrap yard each converter sells for $60 to $100 each.
A total of three converters were stolen last week from the Mounds View Park & Ride. Two more were stolen from different park & rides in Brooklyn Park. Police said commuters can't do much to prevent a theft.
"We are hoping to try to get some more monitoring of those lots," said Kinney.
The Mounds View Park & Ride, as well as many others, has no surveillance cameras.
While its too late for Wienke to get hers back, on Monday a Mounds View squad was on the lookout for anyone ducking under cars with cutting tools. Police said they have no suspects in the thefts.
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