Catalytic converter theft ticks up again across Harris County

Harris County deputies arrested a man after finding catalytic converters, saws and industrial blades in the same vehicle, a reminder that the theft trade is still organized, tool-heavy and moving again across the region. Houston police said on May 22, 2026 that they were seeing a slight increase in catalytic converter thefts in the Houston area, although the problem was still below the peak residents saw a few years ago.

The thefts matter because they usually strike where cars sit for long stretches, not in some isolated corner of the county. Police have warned that parking lots, school campuses and apartment complexes are common targets, which makes the crime especially frustrating for families who depend on one vehicle for commuting, school drop-off and work. A stolen converter can leave a car loud, disabled and expensive to repair.

The surge-and-dip pattern follows the metal market. Houston police said the crime had nearly faded for a while after the value of the precious metals inside converters dropped, but the incentive shifted again as prices rose. Investigators have also intercepted truckloads of converters heading out of state, showing how quickly thieves adapt when local resale routes get harder.

Texas lawmakers tried to choke off that market from both ends. House Bill 4110 requires anyone trying to sell a detached catalytic converter to a metal recycling entity to provide the vehicle’s year, make, model and vehicle identification number, along with proof of ownership. Senate Bill 224, signed on May 29, 2023 and known as the Deputy Darren Almendarez Act, made catalytic converter theft a felony and added new record-keeping and related restrictions. The law carries the name of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Darren Almendarez, whose death while confronting thieves gave the issue a lasting local public-safety legacy.

Police leaders have said those changes helped cut thefts in the last wave, along with added resources, but the latest rise suggests the deterrent is not airtight. Recent cases have not always resulted in the maximum penalties lawmakers intended, and criminals appear to keep finding ways around the rules.

For Harris County drivers, the practical advice is straightforward. Add an alarm if you do not already have one. Consider a metal plate or similar undercarriage protection that makes it harder to cut the converter off quickly. And stay alert when a vehicle is parked in a lot, outside a campus or in an apartment complex, where a fast theft can happen in minutes and leave behind a costly repair cycle.