Thieves target business, church parking lots to steal catalytic converters

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Police are searching for whoever is cutting catalytic converters from vehicles parked in Lincoln County business and church parking lots.

According to investigators, most of the thefts happened Nov. 18, during the early-morning hours. The crimes involved a white van and two people wearing heavy clothing, deputies said.

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Catalytic converters were cut from vehicles in the Denver Industrial Park and Lakeside Church of God. A catalytic converter was also stolen from a church van at Pearl Baptist Church on Highway 27 in Iron Station.

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that reduces toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants.

Anyone with information on the thefts should call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050 or Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.

Cox Media Group