Law enforcement officers say thieves have been harvesting the emissions control devices from vehicles across Cullman County, likely for the recycling value of platinum contained in the devices.

The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert about the thefts Thursday, noting investigators are involved in about a half-dozen cases where catalytic converters have been stolen from church vans and buses. The buses and vans were parked at local churches at the time of the thefts.

“We want to make all local churches aware so that they can take their church van or bus to a parishioners home if they choose to” said Sheriff Matt Gentry. “We will also continue to close patrol all local churches and investigate who is responsible for these crimes but we wanted to make make our churches aware so they can take preventive action.” 

Many of the thefts under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office occurred in Good Hope and West Point. Similar incidents are being investigated in Lawrence County.

Cullman Police Department Sgt. Adam Clark said thefts have also occurred in Cullman, from vehicles parked at businesses and homes.

Platinum is the catalyst in a catalytic converter, but other metals include palladium, rhodium, copper, nickel, cerium, iron, and manganese. Recycling centers ore scrap yards will often pay for the platinum, often the most valuable, palladium, rhodium and copper.

“A lot of times some business vehicles or those owned by churches may sit in the same place because they are used specific times,” Clark said. “Hopefully, we can get the leads needed to make arrests.”