ST. LOUIS — Police in St. Louis and across the country have seen an increase in catalytic converter thefts due to the precious metals in the car part. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department said there have been several arrests and they're trying to track down others, but it's still an issue.
Note: The video above first aired in December 2020
It can cost upwards of $2,000 in repairs if your catalytic converter is stolen, St. Louis police said in a news release.
On Wednesday, police shared some ways to protect your car from being next.
- Park in a well-lit or secure area
- Be attentive to loud sawing noises and call 911 if you see anyone tampering with a vehicle. It only takes minutes to steal a catalytic converter
- Paint with a high contrast color or etch identifying information, like your car's VIN number, on the catalytic converter
- Calibrate your car alarm to detect vibrations
You can get an anti-theft device installed over your catalytic converter to help reduce the chance of it being taken. St. Louis police cautioned that people should do their own research on the device noting it's costly to put on, but that replacing a catalytic converter is also expensive.
St. Louis police also released a list of local car shops that install catalytic converter anti-theft devices. SLMPD noted they don't recommend or guarantee the work of any shop, and any questions about installing the device should be directed to the business. The addresses for those shops are listed below by district.
District 1:
Fairway Automotive
5208 S. Kingshighway
314-352-6317
Advanced Auto Service
6123 Gravois
314-352-8131
District 2:
John's Auto
4000 Gravois Ave.
314-664-1181
Jackson's Master Auto Repair
6501 Fyler
314-644-5995
Columbia Auto Repair
5335 Southwest
314-865-1372
National Tire & Battery
3144 S. Kingshighway
314-735-0892
Carriage Auto
6098 Arsenal
314-781-8240
Hartmann's Auto Center
3301 Sublette
314-352-3372
Schaefer's Auto Care
6520 Chippewa
314-832-2922
Tom Bess Automotive
4922 Macklind
314-353-9936
Coates Brothers Automotive
6405 Manchester
314-647-2334
St. Louis Hills Auto Service
5300 Hampton
314-379-5082
Da Auto Repair
4020 Gravois Ave.
314-932-1306
Shawn's Master Auto Repair
7027 Hampton
314-832-5357
Dobbs Hampton Village
5841 Chippewa
314-351-7800
District 3:
Don's Muffler
2923 Cherokee
(314) 772-7400
Rich's Auto
3701 S. Jefferson
(314) 771-9200
Avenue Auto
2631 Chippewa
(314) 865-3430
District 4:
St. Louis Auto and Truck Repair
2701 Delmar
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-436-2788
Gateway Tire and Car Care Center
1435 N. 13th
St. Louis, MO 63106
314-421-6100
District 5:
Union and Ridge Auto
1404 Union
314-361-0395
Neely and Sons Auto
5328 Dr. Martin Luther King
314-367-7007
District 6:
T&C Complete Auto
5500 W Florissant Ave.
314-383-3103
Betterway Auto Repair
8650 Riverview Blvd.
314-361-7334
Geisz Auto Repair & Sales
1101 McLaran Ave.
314-383-3302
Rent To Own Auto Sales
7700 N. Broadway
314-791-9221
Right Choice Auto
8833 N. Broadway
314-388-2882
New Legacy Automotive Company
8630 N. Broadway
314-736-6638