NORTHAMPTON — Police are warning Toyota Prius owners in the city of a string of catalytic converter thefts this year that have primarily targeted that make and model of car.
In a Facebook post Friday, Police Chief Jody Kasper said officers took a report at 8:23 a.m. Thursday of a stolen catalytic converter from a car parked on Pomeroy Terrace.
Since the beginning of 2020, the police department has taken seven reports of stolen catalytic converters and two reports of damage caused by someone attempting to steal the car part, Kasper wrote.
“All but one of these reports involved 2005-2009 Toyota Prius vehicles,” the post read. “We encourage everyone with a Toyota Prius to park their vehicle in a well-lit area or garage, if possible.”
In early March, Northampton Police Capt. Robert Powers told the Gazette that catalytic converters can be stolen from a parked car by cutting them out from underneath. These stolen parts have a value of around $100 each, he said. Catalytic converters are part of a car’s exhaust system and reduce toxic gases and pollutants. At the time, Powers said he believed similar thefts on Bridge and Prospect streets may have been related.
Kasper wrote in Friday’s Facebook post that small bits of metal debris under or around your car may be a sign that someone has stolen your catalytic converter.
“You would also immediately notice a loud noise while the vehicle is running — as if you needed a new muffler,” she said.
The Northampton Police Department Detective Bureau is investigating these reports.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.