'Rash' of catalytic converter thefts hits 8 communities in southern N.B.

Parked cars and commercial vehicles are being stripped of their exhaust parts in a new rash of thefts in southernNew Brunswick.

The RCMP in that area have responded to 14 reports where a total of 33 catalytic converters were stolen during daylight and at nightsince December.

SpokespersonCpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh said the thefts took placeinBloomfield, Codys, Four Corners, Grand Bay-Westfield, Hampton, Nauwigewauk, Sussex and Welsford.

"We are considering this a rash of thefts," she said.

A catalytic converter is part of the exhaust system and contains precious metals such asplatinum, palladium and rhodium. It works toremove harmful exhaust gases.

Catalytic converterthefts have been noted in Prince Edward Island andNova Scotia, and a police operation in Hamilton last year resulted in 27 arrests and 68 criminal charges.

Rogers-Marsh said people have been targetingcars parked for a long period of time or fleet vehicles, sometimes slipping under the cars, taking off the metal parts and walking away.

"We may have received one report where there were maybe three or four converters stolen from more than one vehicle," she said.

The RCMParrestedtwo peopleon Jan.25 in relation to two of these thefts in Welsford.Rogers-Marsh said a 40-year-old man from Coles Island and a 24-year-old man from Saint John were released pending a future court appearance.

Rogers-Marsh said it's not clearif the two men were connected to the other thefts, so RCMP are asking people for information and warning of possible future thefts.

"At this point, we can only connect them to that one incident," she said. "We're certainly continuing to look at the other incidents to see if there are similarities."

She said RCMP can't rule out that there possibly could be other suspects.

"We're encouraging the public to to report any suspicious activity to police or if they've been a victim of this type of theft to make sure that they call [us]," she said.

Rogers-Marsh said 33 missing catalytic converters is a noteworthy increase in the area.

"Thirteenreportsin a short period of time is significant," she said.

She said RCMP are also looking for information about people trying to sell these converters.