Gates Police warn catalytic converter thefts continue in Rochester area

GATES, N.Y. (WHEC) — Catalytic converters are still being stolen in the Rochester area.

Gates Police put out another warning Wednesday about it, saying the converters are being cut off of cars and trucks, mostly in parking lots that have "fleet vehicles".

Police have been tracking similar crimes since January.

Thieves take the converters and sell them to scrap yards. Experts estimate that heists where the converters are stolen off of multiple vehicles can net thieves upward of $3,000 to $4,000.

Last month, Republican county lawmakers introduced a bill to crack down on scrapping these converters for cash.

A bill was also introduced in the New York State Assembly, but it’s still in committee.