Two catalytic converters were stolen from a Johnson County Senior Services van over the weekend.
Overnight on Dec. 26, a man reportedly cut off and took two catalytic converters on a van parked at the nonprofit’s new headquarters on Tracy Road in New Whiteland, said Kim Smith, executive director.
The entire incident was caught on outdoor security cameras, which shoot quality video in color, even in the dark, and the footage was turned over to the New Whiteland Police Department, Smith said.
Catalytic converter thefts is an ongoing problem in Johnson County and around the state, and it can be devastating to nonprofit organizations such as Senior Services which relies on just two vans for transporting area seniors and people with disabilities to necessary appointments.
Last year, the organization gave rides to 13,530 county residents who needed transportation to medical and non-medical appointments as far north as Southport Road in Indianapolis, and as far south as Edinburgh.
One van being out of commission for a few days could mean several people may not get the services they need, Smith said.
"It’s just unfortunate that we know whoever is stealing these, they may be getting a little bit of money, but this could be devastating to organizations like ours," Smith said. "People literally die if we don’t get them to their life-saving services."
Catalytic converters contain precious metals that can be sold for thousands of dollars, Sheriff Duane Burgess said.
