ALLENDALE, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Grand Valley State University (GVSU) Allendale Campus is investigating a series of car part thefts.
According to the school newspaper The Lanthorn, the GVSU Police Department says since October 30, 2017, there have been eight separate reports of theft of catalytic converters. Catalytic converters sit underneath the car and are used to convert chemical pollutants produced by the car’s engine into less-harmful exhaust.
Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium and most of the converters that have been stolen are older models. The Department believes the parts are being sold for scrap metal with thieves using car jacks to remove the part. .
Brandon DeHaan, acting director of the GVPD is encouraging GVSU students and the community to watch for anything that may appear suspicious.
According to GVSU, inn 2015, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported that there had been a 23-percent increase in the theft of insured catalytic converters from 2008 to 2015, as nearly 4,000 were reported stolen nationwide in 2015. Because that number does not include uninsured converters, the NICB believed the total number to be much higher.
The GVPD is working with the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation.
If a student sees any suspicious activity, they are encouraged to contact the GVPD at 616-331-3255 or the Ottawa County Silent Observer hotline at 877-88-SILENT (745368). If anyone sees a suspected theft in the act, they are encouraged to call 911.
