11 Toyota Prius hybrid cars targeted for catalytic converter theft since January in Monroe County, Indiana
Approximately eighteen vehicles have had their catalytic converters stolen in Monroe County since about January 4, 2022, and 11 of those vehicles were a Toyota Prius, according to Bloomington Police Department Capt. Ryan Pedigo.
Some of the targeted vehicles since January were in the City of Bloomington, and some were in areas in the jurisdiction of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Pedigo told the Bloomingtonian Friday, February 11, 2022.
Another catalytic converter was stolen from a 2007 Hyundai Tucson between 8 p.m. on February 8th and 12:45 p.m. on the 9th in the 400 block of South Rogers Street. This is in addition to four other vehicles targeted this week, including three Toyota Prii that were manufactured between 2004 and 2009.
Toyota Prii made between 2004 and 2009 are the most targeted vehicle in the United States for catalytic converter theft.
“Indiana saw an increase of 271%, while nationally car owners saw an average increase of 353%,” said Been Verified in a press release.
Been Verified published statistics on thefts across the United States:
https://www.beenverified.com/data-analysis/catalytic-converter-theft-state-rankings/
Been verified shared the following Indiana catalytic converter theft statistics with the Bloomingtonian:
The chart shows there were 52 thefts in Indiana in 2019, but 754 in 2021.
