New Massachusetts Law Aims to Thwart Catalytic Converter Thieves

In one of his last official acts in office, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed a bill designed to curb the theft of catalytic converters by regulating the purchase of the automobile parts by scrap metal dealers.

Scrap metal buyers must now require proof of identification and a bill of sale or other document indicating ownership from sellers. The new law further requires buyers to keep records of all catalytic converter sales including the name, address and license plate number of sellers.

The law is a response to a rise of thefts of the pollution reduction devices in Massachusetts and across the country as the price of metals used in the devices has risen.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), claims for catalytic converter thefts numbered 3,389 in 2019 and 14,433 in 2020 and continued to rise during the pandemic. One insurer, State Farm, reported that in just the first half of 2022 , it had received more than 23,000 catalytic converter theft claims nationally.

The NICB has reported that 10 states enacted new laws in 2021 similar to what Massachusetts now has.

Catalytic converters contain precious metals such as platinum or rhodium. In recent years, the values of these precious metals have increased significantly. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, according to federal prosecutors. Federal prosecutors have said the part can be stolen in less than one minute.

Republican Baker has exited his office after two terms. Democrat Maura Healey has been inaugurated as his successor. In March, Baker will take on a new job as chief executive of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).