Burglars swipe catalytic converters in Clearlake

Four catalytic converters were stolen Tuesday from trucks parked at an AT&T office in Clearlake.

Workers on Wednesday realized that someone had cut a fence, entered the storage yard in the 2500 block of Old Highway 53, and removed the emission control devices from the vehicles, Clearlake Police Department said.

Catalytic converters are often targeted for theft because they contain expensive precious metals, such as platinum, palladium, or rhodium. The rare metals help create the chemical reactions that reduce tailpipe pollutants.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Officer Nixon at (707) 994-8251.

The Rohnert Park police department has warned residents about similar catalytic converter thefts, as well as tool thefts, and urged residents to take additional security precautions.

Anyone with a crime tip is encouraged to call 707-584-COPS (2677).

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at (707) 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.