Catalytic converter thieves hit Stinnett Automotive

Newport Police responded Thursday, July 25 to Stinnett Automotive on West Broadway regarding several vehicles on the auto dealership’s lot that had catalytic converters removed.

According to an incident report, a total of six vehicles were discovered by employees to have been vandalized. Three of the vehicles were inventory for sale on the lot and three were at the dealership for repairs or awaiting pickup. Employees advised the damage to the vehicles occurred sometime during the night on Wednesday, July 24.

The report listed the following vandalized vehicles:

2003 Buick Rendezvous2017 Ford E-3502003 Jeep Grand Cherokee2005 Toyota Tacoma2010 Kia Sedona2011 Honda CR-V

Carfax.com ranks Honda CR-V No. 5 among vehicles with reported catalytic converter thefts.

Newport Police Department detectives recovered a small pocket flashlight under one of the vandalized vehicles.

According to Edmonds.com stolen catalytic converters are not usually offered for sale as-is, but can be sold on the black market or to scrap yards that will buy them and sell them to companies specializing in scrap metals.