LYNN — The Lynn Police Department is warning Lynn drivers to keep an eye on their cars, following a spike in catalytic converter thefts this week.
Lynn Police received 10 calls from East Lynners on Wednesday, reporting that their catalytic converters — the device on the underside of cars that reduces exhaust pollution — had been stolen. Thursday night, Lt. Michael Kmiec confirmed that yet another catalytic converter theft was reported.
“We’re concerned that there may be others. People may have not started their cars or even know that it has occurred yet,” Kmiec said.
Kmiec said that the reported thefts were generally spread out in areas near Euclid Avenue and Eastern Avenue.
While any car can be targeted for catalytic converter theft, police have noticed that Hondas and smaller cars are typically targeted because they’re easier to put on a jack and lift.
“If they’re experienced at it, they can jack up a small car quickly. They know what they’re looking for, and they’re able to cut the pipes quickly to get it off. It doesn’t take them an extremely long time, which makes it difficult to catch them,” Kmiec said.
A person hanging around a parking lot jacking up cars might get spotted, but Kmiec noted that street-parked cars — especially in the winter — are more difficult to keep an eye on.
“Some target vehicles that are on the street, because some people don’t have the ability to park in a driveway closer to their home, and in the wintertime, windows are closed, so it’s certainly harder to hear when somebody’s outside using a cutting tool or something to that effect.”
Kmiec said that while police aren’t sure how many suspects are responsible, in the past, catalytic converter thefts in Lynn were typically at the hands of just a small group of people. He said that he encourages the public to stay alert and report any suspicious sightings.
“Be alert — if you hear anything, report it because a lot of times, they will target them in parking lots where there’s many vehicles parked, and it may be an apartment complex,” Kmiec said.
