Chilliwack RCMP issue warning after catalytic converter thefts at local lakes
Mounties in Chilliwack are warning the public about a string of recent catalytic converter thefts at a pair of local recreation areas.
Chilliwack RCMP say in a news release that they've seen several of the parts stolen from vehicles parked at Lindeman Lake and Chilliwack Lake over the last few weeks.
"Thieves are targeting unoccupied vehicles at these locations," says Sgt. Krista Vrolyk, spokesperson for Chilliwack RCMP.
"The thefts are occurring both during the day and overnight," Vrolyk added. "Chilliwack RCMP are asking the public to be aware and to report any suspicious activity – particularly in and around Chilliwack Lake and Lindeman Lake recreation areas."
Catalytic converters control exhaust emissions on vehicles, and contain precious metals that attract thieves when the value of those metals rises.
According to ICBC, claims for catalytic converter thefts have increased from 89 claims in 2017 to 158 in 2018, 602 in 2019, 1,065 in 2020 and 1,953 in 2021.
The cost of those claims has grown from $356,950 in 2017 to $4.06 million in 2021, according to the insurance corporation.
Earlier this year, the province announced that it had closed a loophole that allowed thieves to anonymously sell stolen catalytic converters to scrap-metal dealers.
The change hasn't eliminated the crime, however. Earlier this week, Mounties with the Oceanside detachment on Vancouver Island announced that they had seen a dramatic increase in catalytic converter thefts in 2022 so far.
The recent Chilliwack thefts remain under investigation, police said, adding that drivers can deter catalytic converter thefts by parking in secure garages when possible, parking in locations where it is difficult for thieves to get underneath the vehicle, and installing products designed to deter catalytic converter thefts – such as protective cages, alarms and straps.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
Ontario's need for nurses, PSWs to top 33K and 50K by 2032: document
Ontario will need 33,200 more nurses and 50,853 more personal support workers by 2032, the government projects — figures it tried to keep secret but were obtained by The Canadian Press.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
'It happened so fast': Evacuees describe fleeing Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire
Thousands have been forced to flee a wildfire burning near Fort Nelson. Meanwhile, some experienced volunteers are staying behind to fight the fire.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
U.S. schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.