Six reports were made to the IU Police Department about stolen catalytic converters from various vehicles in parking lots of two IU residence halls Sunday morning between 2:00 and 11:00 a.m.
The thefts took place in the parking lots outside Eigenmann and Willkie residence halls.
Catalytic converters can be found on the underside of a vehicle. Their primary function involves converting toxic pollutants the car emits into more subtle gases, according to the local Bloomington AutoZone website.
In cars where the catalytic converter is fused into the bottom of the car, a person would need to saw off both sides of the part in order to break it free from the vehicle.
IUPD Capt. Andy Stephenson said these parts can have some sort of value when taken to scrap yards, hence the attraction to these pieces. These parts can be purchased from anywhere between $90 and $265 on the AutoZone website.
Anyone with information about these thefts should call IUPD, Stephenson said.
Kelly Evans
