The Lincoln Police Department is calling on the community to help after almost 100 catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles and RVs so far this year.
During the last week, officers were dispatched to Leach Camper Sales on Cornhusker Highway in northeast Lincon, Nebraska, on a report of theft.
When responding officers got to the business, workers said unknown suspects cut off catalytic converters from eight campers. The loss amounting to over $9,000.
LPD stated this is happening for the second time in the last month that Leach Camper Sales had catalytic converters stolen from their RVs.
Officers processed the scene and were checking surveillance video.
LPD stated so far this year they’ve investigated 91 stolen catalytic converters, a loss amounting just under $35,000. Comparing this data to last year, officers said in 2019 there were a total of 52 catalytic converters reported stolen.
There’s no specific location of Lincoln that these suspects are targeting, as officers stated it’s happening city-wide.
LPD is asking the community to check for the people crawling or laying under cars, or lurking around cars and businesses after hours, and also paying attention to the sound of battery-operated handsaws.
Investigators stated these suspects are going to businesses and apartment complexes during the middle of the night, after that they take the stolen catalytic converters to scrap shops to get money.
LPD stated they’ve been alerting area scrap shops regarding the thefts and officers are increasing patrols.
