Residents face growing threat of midnight catalytic converter thieves in Suffolk County

By Matty Wagner

SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y. - Suffolk County residents are dealing with a rise in catalytic converter thefts in the area. This car part, which is an essential part of a car’s exhaust system, helps lower the amount of harmful chemicals that are released by a car’s engine by turning these chemicals into safer emissions, such as steam. Thefts of catalytic converters have left car owners with expensive repairs, as well as increased safety concerns in neighborhoods in the county.  

Tyler Bushing, a Farmingdale Student from Bay Shore, discovered his catalytic converter was stolen overnight before leaving for class. “I get in my car, I put my keys in the ignition to start it, and it sounds like a boat. It’s like, super loud, and I can instantly tell right away that something was wrong”.  After inspecting his car, he found “cut marks from something” where the part was removed. Bushing was able to get security cam footage of the incident from a neighbor, which recorded the thieves during the theft.  

A News 12 report shows a recent high-speed chase that occurred in Lindenhurst, where two suspects who are accused of stealing catalytic converters led police on a chase resulting in both of their arrests. An officer suffered a broken bone because of the chase. The two suspects, Henry Cruz and Luis Acosta, were charged with assault, auto stripping, and resisting arrest, among other charges.  

The financial burden of the incident was made worse by the type of replacement that is allowed in New York State. Bushing explains that “you have to get a New York State-approved catalytic converter, which costs a lot more money than a regular universal catalytic converter”, which he discovered while looking to get it fixed. He eventually paid out of pocket around $1,150 because his insurance policy lacked the specific type of coverage that would have covered an incident like this.  

Local authorities believe incidents like this are a part of a larger group that is affecting several neighborhoods in the county. According to Bushing, “the detective said that they believe the criminals are operating out of New York City, and they come out to Long Island during the night to steal whatever they want, then go back to the city”. This makes it significantly harder to track them.  

The process of stealing catalytic converters is unfortunately fast and takes less than a few minutes. Thieves target older cars, as well as cars with higher ground clearance, which makes it easier to steal. According to Kelley Blue Book, a criminal needs a saw or other power tool to cut the part away. Once the catalytic converter is removed, it’s sold to scrap yards for the metal inside  

The increase in activity follows a police response from August 20, 2025, where the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office released a press statement regarding the sentencing of members of a catalytic converter theft ring. The press release stated that the group worked together to steal catalytic converters from cars in Suffolk throughout 2024. While thefts decreased for a period after these arrests, recent events, including the events in Lindenhurst, and the events occurring in Bay Shore.  

To prevent future thefts, many car owners can find security measures to protect their vehicles. According to Carfax, these options include metal plates over the catalytic converter or etching the car’s VIN on the part.