Just since June, nearly 90 of the car parts have been stolen in Tacoma. Another 10 were taken in the first six months of the year for a total of 98 through mid-September.

Investigators don’t know exactly what’s driving the sudden increase, though the ease of the crime and the lucrative value of the item helps.

“They are ripping them off in 30 seconds or less,” said Tacoma police detective Ed Baker, who investigates auto crimes. “They sell for $60 to $125 per catalytic converter.”

Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s emissions system. They contain trace amounts of platinum, palladium and rhodium, precious metals worth more than $1,000 an ounce.

The parts have become a target of thieves looking to make a quick buck or feed drug habits. They target large parking lots full of cars such as park-and-rides, hospitals, shopping centers and apartment complexes.

Thieves slide under a vehicle, cut the hardware off with a power tool and are off. They later resell the parts to a recycler.

Thieves appear to favor Toyota trucks and GMC vehicles. Those manufacturers tend to have larger catalytic converters and the vehicles are higher off the ground, making it easier for thieves to get underneath, Baker said.

Thieves starting stealing catalytic converters in the South Sound last year. Law enforcement officials have said thieves turned to the hardware because of crackdowns that have made it harder to make methamphetamine and steal copper wire.

Puyallup police issued a crime alert to its residents last December, asking people to look out for suspicious behavior related to the activity.

The problem has only escalated since then.

“It’s just taken off,” said Puyallup police Lt. Dave McDonald.

His department took three reports of catalytic converter thefts on Wednesday alone. He didn’t have theft numbers for the year but said the problem stands out compared with a year ago.

“It’s more prevalent,” he said.

And it’s a hard problem to curb. Baker estimated that some thefts are not reported to law enforcement.

In addition, the thieves are hard to catch. They move quickly and are long gone by the time car owners start their vehicles and discover the problem. The car makes a loud noise it wasn’t making before.

Baker said it costs owners about $300 to replace the part.

Tacoma police have arrested five people in the past two months who have either been caught stealing the hardware or have catalytic converters in their possession.

One of the thieves told investigators he stole 20 to 30 of the parts in a month before getting nabbed, Baker said.

Puyallup police made one arrest several months ago.

“A lot of times, we are just taking reports,” McDonald said.

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268

blogs.thenewstribune.com/crime

catalytic converter thefts reported in tacoma in 2008

 • 98 were taken between Jan. 1 and Sept. 14.

 • 14.3 percent were stolen from cars in park-and-ride locations, and 71.4 percent of the thefts took place in parking lots.

 • 19.4 percent occurred on Tuesdays and another 19.4 percent on Thursdays.

 • 18.4 percent took place between 6 and 7:59 a.m.

 • 56.1 percent of the catalytic converters came from Toyota vehicles.

 • 90.8 percent of the thefts have taken place since June 1. Tips to protect yourself from thieves

 • Park in a well-lit area.

 • Lock all doors and roll up all windows.

 • Activate your alarm system if you have one.

 • Park so that someone cannot crawl under the back of your vehicle.

 • Back vehicles up near garage doors.

 • Engrave your catalytic converter. This will help in identifying it if it’s stolen.