An East Lansing police car photographed on Aug. 23, 2019.
—The East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) has received five reports of stolen catalytic converters from Honda CR-V's in the East Lansing area, according to police records.
A catalytic converter is a feature of modern cars that allows for the removal of dangerous chemicals from exhaust emissions. The catalytic converter is one of the most expensive parts of a vehicle, according to an article on Phys.org by Andrew Myers from Stanford University.
"We don't know why, specifically, they were targeting that Honda CR-V," ELPD Lieutenant Scot Sexton said.
Most of the catalytic converters were stolen along Michigan Avenue between East Grand River Avenue and the Lansing city limit, Sexton said. ELPD is still in the process of checking the cameras of local businesses in that area.
"The other thing we're following up on is with some of the scrap yards," Sexton said. "Because if people take those items to scrap yards to scrap them, generally they have to leave a thumbprint."
ELPD encourages citizens of East Lansing to park their vehicles in a garage if they are able, according to the report. If members of the community do not have access to a garage, ELPD advises parking vehicles in highly visible, well-lit areas.
Witnesses of suspicious activity or a theft in progress are encouraged to call 911.
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