Heavy metal — Recyclers, law enforcers try to thwart thieves

Randy Vantienderen was busy this year getting under other people's cars, according to investigators.

Armed with a reciprocating saw, the man would find an unoccupied vehicle, typically at a TRAX station parking lot, crawl underneath, make two quick cuts, and walk away with the vehicle's catalytic converter.

The auto part, standard on vehicles since the '70s to reduce harmful engine emissions, contains small amounts of precious metals — some of which sold for thousands of dollars an ounce over the summer. That turns the part into a hot commodity for criminals looking to make a fast buck at junkyards.

In Utah and nationally, this year's earlier spike in the price of copper and precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium lured thieves to the underbellies of vehicles, construction sites and rail yards.

In Vantienderen's case, authorities believe he started his converter theft spree in April. The frequency of his thefts increased over time: A converter was stolen on Sept. 22. Another on Sept. 24. Three on Sept. 26. Two more on Sept. 30.

By the time the law caught up with him, prosecutors allege he'd stolen 119 catalytic converters and sold them to recyclers. He now faces prosecution in 3rd District Court on 38 criminal offenses.

Catalytic converters are by no means the only targets. Major companies along the Wasatch Front have been hit with metal thefts, including Kennecott, the Utah Transit Authority, Rocky Mountain Power and Qwest. Even cemeteries, with brass vases used to hold memorial flowers, haven't been off limits.

The allure is quick and sometimes big money. In Vantienderen's case, investigators estimated he pocketed $13,000.

"We saw catalytic converters in May, June and July at unprecedented heights," said Mark Lewon, vice president of operations for Utah Metal Works. "The larger foreign pieces were almost $200 a piece, and that's going to attract some criminals to it. There's no question those high markets are going to attract some theft."

Salt Lake County Deputy District Attorney Fred Burmester estimated the losses in Salt Lake County due to metal thefts since 2007 have been about $1 million.

"It's not just the value of things taken, but also, and more serious, is the damage which we could charge a criminal mischief case," he said.