Fall River Police warn residents concerning thieves stealing tailgates, catalytic converters

Thieves are targeting the tailgates from pick-up trucks. Especially Ford F-150, F-250, and F-350, according to Fall River Police. They are expensive ($1,500 to $3,500) and take around 30 seconds to remove when left unlocked. These tailgates include multiple accessories such as back up cameras, step ladders, and boarding handles. Stolen tailgates are typically sold online or stripped of their electronics and sold for scrap metal.

FRPD recommends you park your truck as close as possible to another vehicle, wall, fence, post, etc. to prevent thieves from opening it. You can etch your truck’s Vehicle Identification Number on the tailgate to help recover it if it’s stolen.

Fall River Police has also stated that thefts of catalytic converters are also on the rise. A catalytic converter can be removed from a vehicle in minutes with a battery-powered saw or grinder. If you hear grindings sounds from underneath a parked vehicle please contact the police as soon as possible. Thieves steal catalytic converters to sell for scrap metal. Catalytic converters contain valuable metals, like palladium, rhodium, and platinum. If a thief sells a catalytic converter to an unscrupulous scrap yard, he or she will get approximately $200 for it. That’s not bad money for a few minutes work. If your converter gets stolen, it’s going to be a hassle for you because it’s illegal to drive a car without one and it could cost you up to $2,000 to replace it.

Vehicles with higher ground clearance are most at risk, but no vehicle is immune. There are ways to deter catalytic converter theft or at least make the thieves work harder for it. The simplest: park your car in a well-lit area. You can also get your license plate number or vehicle identification number etched into the converter.

Detective Luis Vertentes is conducting the investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact him by email at LVertentes@FRPD.ORG or by phone at 508-324-2796 or 508-676-8511 Ext.260.