Drivers from North Olmsted to Shaker Heights are discovering their catalytic converters are gone from their vehicles. North Olmsted, Westlake, and Shaker Heights are among some of the cities that have had culprits steal the pricey part off of cars, SUVs and trucks over the past several days.
In North Olmsted, two delivery vans from Fragapane Bakeries were targeted.
"We went to use one of our delivery trucks and heard a loud dragging noise," explained Victor Fragapane.
It cost roughly $8,000 to have the vans repaired.
A family from New York had the catalytic converter stolen off of their Honda minivan in a Westlake hotel a few days ago.
Last week, at least four drivers at an RTA parking lot in Shaker Heights had the part taken from their cars as well.
North Royalton police arrested three people after six catalytic converters were found in the trunk of a car they were in early Sunday morning.
North Royalton police sent a bulletin to surrounding communities about the six catalytic converters they found in the car. Now, North Royalton police are working with other police departments to determine what cars the converters were taken from and where. " There could be a larger operation," said North Royalton Det. Dave Loeding.
Police said the catalytic converters are stolen for the metal and then scrapped, normally for about $50.
