drive on this Monday. Only
cent.
>> All right. Anna Veith,
thanks so much. Catalytic
converter thefts is what we’re talking about right now.
talking about right now.
It is a rising problem. The new
in the 7 o’clock hour here,
Triple A’s releasing their list
of the top counties in Texas where these thefts occur.
where these thefts occur.
And here’s the list for you.
Harris County, right at the top
number one, Fort Bend County.
Number 2, then you’ve got
Dallas Scout County. You got Bexar County and then tear and
Bexar County and then tear and
county. Joining us more to talk
about is Joshua Zuber, our
buddy from Triple A Texas and
New Mexico. Joshua, good We’ve talked gas prices typically,
talked gas prices typically,
but here we are talking about
something else that’s really a
pain in the b***. For drivers,
his catalytic converter thefts.
Talk about this problem.
I mean, for those that don’t know, why are these things such
know, why are these things such
a target?
>> Yeah, you certainly at
another big headline we’ve been
dealing with across the Lone Star State and right here on
Star State and right here on
Harris County, Texas. In
general, a hot spot for these
catalytic converter thefts. AAA data actually showing
AAA data actually showing
statewide numbers about 5,000%
since 2019. And when we drill
down into which area Texas is
seeing the most activity already mentioned it right here
already mentioned it right here
in our own backyard. So why
these catalytic converter
thefts are on the rise will
travel to the converters.
They change harmful substances in the car’s into less harmful
in the car’s into less harmful
substances by means of chemical
reactions. And to do that,
these catalytic converters,
these guys of the valuable rare metals inside of them. A couple
metals inside of them. A couple
of those more valuable than
gold. So when these things get
the cash payouts for them can
add up fast. When sold.
>> Yeah, a black mark. It’s got to be just thriving right now
to be just thriving right now
with stolen catalytic
converters. And we’ve seen some
of the bus. I mean, the law
enforcement will bust people
with dozens of them. You know it I go.
of them. You know it I go.
I was with my buddies auto shop
last week and he had a brand
tundra. Toyota in from a
customer catalytic converter gone. Well, those pickup truck
gone. Well, those pickup truck
gone. I feel like those high
vehicles.
>> The high clearance vehicles.
It’s just any, but almost
anybody of any size can slide under there with a song cut
under there with a song cut
that thing out in 10 seconds.
>> Well, certainly do seem to
be the most popular types of vehicles. Those you know, messy
vehicles. Those you know, messy
these pickup got a really big
problem throughout the Lone
Star State and particularly
here in Harris several reasons
possibly behind that. Of perhaps are large population,
perhaps are large population,
right? We’ve got the biggest
population right here on the
Lone Star State right here in
Houston comes that’s why it’s
so important that we bring
awareness to this issue to your audience has something to do
audience has something to do
everything they can to
prevent it.
>> And talk about prevention a
little bit. I mean, I guess
part of it, you would think it
could be where your parking
where the times. But but in
addition, I mean, what can we even do to our vehicles may be
even do to our vehicles may be
to make it more difficult for
the crooks.
>> I think in your head on a really important part is is
really important part is is
putting your vehicle in the
same such as your garage.
So, you know, maybe it’s using
your garage as storage for a
lot of items in your Perhaps it
may be time to consider putting your vehicle in there if you
your vehicle in there if you
you know, parking as well in
areas close to building You
know, when we talk about what can you do, your vehicle get a
can you do, your vehicle get a
catalytic converter. She’ll
price will have your VIN number
catch on to the catalytic
converter itself or your
license plate. Number of have
the javelin a converter. How well did your vehicle
How well did your vehicle
spring that may make it more
difficult to steal from.
You know, it’s available on
trying to calibrate your car if if that’s an option to detect
if that’s an option to detect
vibration. And I’m always we
recommend carrying a good
insurance policy just in case.
Yeah, I mean, in the case of
Michael, that’s what he had
to do is essentially file a claim. But
claim. But
>> I mean, realistically, that
makes insurance more expensive
for everybody down the road.
The more of these kinds of
thefts we haven’t.
>> You know, certainly
obviously when we talk about
these various issues, a lot of
things contributing to the
possibility of paying more for
your auto insurance. So you
want to make sure you know,
you’re doing all you can you
talk your mechanic about these
various prevention methods.
And if you need to find a
trusted mechanic, you can check
out triple a dot com forward
slash on the repair its free. Just type in your ZIP code and
Just type in your ZIP code and
you’ll find the nearest AAA
approved auto repair facilities
around you on Tripoli has done
a lot of the research on this
topic for various publications. And you can just head on over
And you can just head on over
to Tripoli dot com and you can
check those And as I had
mentioned, you know, make sure
you’ve got the right insurance
policy for you to go ahead and talk to your insurance agent,
talk to your insurance agent,
go over your policy and make
sure you’ve got all the right
coverage.
>> I think that number 5,000%,
when you mentioned the
statistic off the top is pretty shocking. It seems like word
shocking. It seems like word
got out that these catalytic
converters have some value
there relatively easy to steal
of. People haven’t done
anything. And that’s why the
explosion. I mean, if any idea
what they can do, maybe to get the black market under Is there
the black market under Is there
anything else that we haven’t
talked about?
>> Yeah, it was certainly when
we’re talking about just
getting this particular issue
under again, it’s it’s making
sure as the vehicle owner,
you’re doing the best you you
know, trying to make sure your
research is various prevention
methods. Make sure you park your vehicle in a safe spot.
your vehicle in a safe spot.
>> All right, on. All right.
Josh Rivera, people doing the
best they can. It’s a to your
point. The heavy population centers, more people, more
centers, more people, more
vehicles, more opportunity so
anyway, it’s something for all
of us to deal with in that
case. always nice to talk with
you. Really appreciate it.
Great to be here. Thanks so
much. Alright, one of these days, we’ll talk about