Police Search for Thieves who Stole 35 Catalytic Converters from RV Dealership

Pennsylvania police are trying to figure out who stole thousands of dollars’ worth of catalytic converters from exhaust systems of 35 vehicles parked in the lot at a Salem RV dealership along Route 66.

The thefts took place about 2 a.m. Oct. 2 at Valero Century RV, just north of Delmont, Trooper Jeffrey Walton reported. Walton said the thieves targeted a fleet of Schwan’s delivery trucks parked on the property. Valero’s website says its service department handles maintenance and repairs for vehicles from the well-known grocery home delivery company.

Valero officials did not return calls seeking comment.

It is the latest report indicating a spike in catalytic converter thefts in the region.

On Feb. 23, state police put out an alert that thieves in Somerset and Fayette counties had stolen catalytic converters from about 30 vehicles parked around Seven Springs Mountain Resort over a span of weeks. No arrests were made in that case.

Also Monday, state troopers in Indiana County reported that a catalytic converter was stolen Sept. 24 from a Ford pickup owned by a 63-year-old Blairsville man and parked at a repair shop along Route 286 in Center Township.

Click here to read the full story from Paul Pierce of the Tarentum, Pa.-based Trib.