Two weeks ago, Pastor Albert Lynn started his bus at Delta Care Hope Foundation/ Empowering Adult Day Center, when he noticed something odd.
It was rumbling loudly.
Upon further inspection, he discovered that his catalytic converter had been stolen.
“It’s nerve wracking because now we don’t know when (the thief or thieves) will show up again,” said Brenda Lynn, CEO of the Adult Day Center.
The thieves did show up again this past Saturday, and a catalytic converter was stolen from a wheelchair van that was parked at their business.
This time Pastor Lynn noticed as he was going to pick up a client. The catalytic converter is located in the exhaust system between the engine and the muffler underneath the vehicle. Initially, it was around $180 to repair their 14-passenger bus when the catalytic converter was stolen. When it was stolen a second time from their wheelchair van it was roughly $80.
“I didn’t notice it was a problem until it happened to us,” said Lynn.” My husband took it to the shop and that’s when the individual told us that this problem has been going on a couple of weeks here in Indianola.”
The catalytic converter has scrap value because of valuable metals that it contains such as platinum, copper and nickel.
The Indianola Police Department has received four reports of stolen catalytic converters beginning on August 31 and the most recent theft happening on November 9. There has been catalytic converter theft reported in several different areas in Indianola, but they all appear to be on the north side of town. The vehicles also vary, including a Chevrolet school bus, Ford van, and Chevrolet Cavalier.
“We actually have a pretty promising lead,” said IPD Chief Edrick Hall. “We have a guy who is in custody now working with Sheriff (James) Haywood.”
The theft of catalytic converters is unlike any crime Hall has seen.
“I’ve been in law enforcement 23 years, and I haven’t really seen anything like this,” said Hall.
This crime is not only an issue in Indianola but in surrounding areas as well.
“I’ve spoken to other Chiefs in the area,” said Hall. “I know the city of Greenville had some. It’s certainly not just an Indianola thing. It’s just something that people are stealing now. We certainly have to put our resources together.”
Lynn has decided to increase the surveillance around their business due to the recent theft, and she would like the community to be aware and on alert so it doesn’t happen to them.
