U.S. hotels may still be in cost-cutting mode, but it is time for them to step up security to address the recent surge in catalytic converter thefts. Guests should not have to fear whether it is safe to leave their cars overnight.
Hotels Targeted For Auto Theft As Catalytic Converters Soar In Value
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. In short, it is anti-pollution device. It also contains valuable metals inside. Apparently, the rhodium inside can fetch up to $28,000/ounce. Each catalytic converter contains about $200-300 worth of rhodium.
Thieves have targeted these devices during the pandemic and an alarming trend has been observed: hotels have been targeted. Think about the last time you were at a limited-service property like a Hampton Inn, Hyatt Place, or Courtyard. In most cases, you park your car in a lot around the hotel, which is open and uncontrolled. Look up: do you see cameras? Often the answer is no.
A Live and Let’s Fly reader has been victimized twice in the last month: both times the catalytic converter was brazenly stolen from a small truck in a hotel parking lot. One incident occurred at the Courtyard by Marriott in Spokane, Washington and the second at a Hampton Inn in Hayward, California.
Thieves are not stupid: they see that hotels are greatly short-staffed during the pandemic and they also notice that hotel parking lots have no security cameras. The result? More thefts.
Across the country, NPR reports there has been a ten-fold increase in catalytic converter thefts since 2018, prompting calls for new legislation to add harsher penalties for those who steal and make it harder for those who steal to re-sell the catalytic converters.
But hotels need to step up and not subject their guests to unreasonable risk. If hotels are known targets and hotel owners fail to take measures to prevent such risk, they should be subject to liability.
CONCLUSION
Hotels should be on notice that thieves are targeting their parking lots for auto theft. It is time for hotels to step up patrols of their parking lots or at least introduce cameras. A dozen HD Nest cameras are not going to break the bank. In the meantime, consider rebar treatment (about $100) to protect your existing catalytic converter and turn a two-minute theft job into a near impossible one.
image: Hilton
Matt, off topic but did you see the story on CNN today that 40% of TSA is unvaccinated? No way they can let all these people go and not have a disaster this holiday season.
And it is obviously most have decided not to get the vaccine if they haven’t by this point.
Will be a huge story if true and maybe a game changer on the federal mandate.
Have not seen it, but will look.
IDIOTS, COVID, VACCINES and invalid JOE BITEM all make life STUPID
GET A GRIP VAX boy! WALK NEXT TIME!
Hotel parking lots have been targets for thieves for decades. In some cases, hotel “security” staff have even been in cahoots with the parking lot thieves.
First and only time I’ve personally had my own things stolen while the vehicle was parked happened at a hotel parking lot. And that was decades ago.
By the way, if relocating and items are being transported in a trailer — instead of in the car itself — being driven on a trip with an overnight stop at a hotel — check to make sure that theft of goods from or of the the trailer is covered by insurance for the transported goods before doing the relocation.
I had an early morning flight today and I live 1.5+ hours from MCO so I was looking to do a park and fly package. I was originally booked at a Hyatt Place, but had an iffy feeling leaving my car in the lot so I decided to move to the MCO Hyatt Regency where the parking is in the secured terminal parking garage. ..glad I did!
It’s interesting that the higher clearance a vehicle is the more attractive it is to the Catalytic Convertor thieves. They can easily get under them and quickly cut it away. I imagine the ability to hit 20-30 of these vehicles in one night and netting around $4K…and I agree with GUWonder that I suspect there is involvement with staff at the hotels who clue them in on vehicles and guest movement. Toyota’s are especially vulnerable. Especially pickup trucks like the Tacoma. The most targeted vehicle though is a Prius. My friend in PDX with a Prius has had his stolen twice now, one time being this summer in Seattle, again, at a hotel parking lot.
The time has come for hotels to absolutely have cameras throughout and do a complete assessment of security. Night staff should be required to do outside surveillance and twice a night parking lot walk arounds. It’s getting out of hand and the security of guests should be the first priority.
Sometimes cameras do nothing. Some police department no longer make in person police reports. You just enter it online so you get a police report number. Even if you have a camera image, the police do not do anything unless the crook is wearing an ID badge with her/his name clearly visible. I am not kidding.
Or sometimes they do. I had a briefcase taken at a conference and the cameras caught an employee walking outside a back door and putting it in her car,
Another incentive to buy an electric vehicle.
Matthew, what is the “$100 rebar treatment” you mentioned? Like Stuart’s friend, I have had the converter on my Prius stolen twice this year, both times at home (and in a very low crime area in SoCal). Aftermarket anti-theft cover grills and such for a Prius converter price out at $500-900 installed. But in the end, the police have said thieves with the right tools can cut thru the grills also; it only adds another minute or less. With the rising prices of valuable minerals, converter thefts will not be going away anytime soon, IMHO.
Crime in the U.S. is out of control. Increasingly unpleasant and unsafe place to spend time.
Worked in a hotel for a large chain we have car thefts daily and even the GM had he escalate 3rd row seats stolen. Do you think he increased security that was before the pandemic and near the dallas lov airport. No security in the day before 4pm and only one at night for a 350+ hotel with banquet space. Was so bad they made a sign in the lobby to lock and hide things then sales were pissed off it ran away business. So many tail gates, 3rd row seats and those catalytic converter employees were afraid to park! Still have photos of the signs lol