The Hood River Police Department says there have been seven reports of catalytic converters being stolen from vehicles within the city limits since the start of the year, and another was reported by the Hood River County Sheriff’s Office this past weekend. Thieves target catalytic converters because they contain precious metals, like platinum, palladium or rhodium that are valuable to metal dealers. When the catalytic converter has been removed, your vehicle will make a loud roaring sound that will get louder as you push the gas pedal. It can cost on average up to $2,000 to replace a catalytic converter and it is illegal to drive your car without one. Police say to prevent catalytic converter theft, park in well-lit areas and close to building entrances or in a garage if possible, have the catalytic converter welded to your car frame to make it harder to steal, consider engraving your vehicle identification number on the converter, calibrate your car’s alarm to set off when it detects a vibration, or use video surveillance. New Oregon Senate bill, SB 803, has been proposed to curb the rise in catalytic converter thefts by prohibiting scrap metal businesses from buying or receiving catalytic converters, except from commercial sellers.