Ok. . . So What's Really Going On?

Alright. We need some help from anyone out there who knows what is going on.

Illinois newspapers are reporting that catalytic converters are being stolen from parked cars by metal scavengers and sold for upwards of $150!

Has anyone heard of this happening?  Apparently, the thieves go to areas where there are large groups of parked cars such as auto dealerships, park-n-ride lots and possibly parking garages. Thieves slide under the cars and use saws to cut the catalytic converters from the vehicles.

The thieves then sell the converters to metal scrap yards where they are processed to remove precious metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium. OK, we know what platinum can be used for. . . but what are rhodium and palladium?  And what are they used for?

If you know of any reports of this going on in Chicago, let us know. And. . . watch your cars!

Thanks.

Comments

[S.Jones]

Found on Wikipedia.org

As of 2006, rhodium cost approximately six times as much as gold, by weight.This metal finds use in jewelry and for decorations. It is electroplated on white gold and platinum to give it a reflective white surface. This is known as rhodium flashing in the jewelry business.

Palladium is also used in dentistry, watch making, in aircraft spark plugs and in the production of surgical instruments and electrical contacts.

Palladium is also used to make professional transverse flutes.It can also be used as a substitute for nickel when making white gold.

Palladium is one of three most used metals which can be alloyed with gold to produce white gold. (Nickel and silver can also be used.)

Palladium-gold is a much more expensive alloy than nickle-gold but is hypoallergenic and holds it's white color better.

[Lt. Robert Stasch (Tact 023)]

We've had 6 incidents reported in the 23rd District since 18 Dec 2006.