ABC13's partners at the Houston Chronicle looked at the data.
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Their report shows about 340 Houstonians reported their catalytic converters stolen in March of this year, down from more than 1,200 reported stolen in March 2022 -- a decline of about 71%.
Between January and April, the number of thefts went down at least 60% compared to the 2022 data from Houston police.
The decline in thefts can be attributed to a combination of changes.
Local and state laws, including an ordinance issued by the city of Houston, made it harder for thieves to resell catalytic coveters.
READ MORE: Catalytic converter ordinance in effect after rise of thefts in Houston
Ordinance in effect after rise of catalytic converter thefts
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The price for metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium, which made the parts valuable, have also dropped dramatically.
An ounce of rhodium could sell for $30,000 about a year ago, compared to about $7,600 now, Sgt. Tracy Hicks said. There's about one to two grams of rhodium in a catalytic converter.
That means a stolen catalytic converter might have once netted potential thieves $8,000, but now would only generate between $400 to $500, HPD said.
SEE ALSO: Authorities find Houston-area ties in nationwide crackdown on catalytic converter theft
Authorities find local ties in nationwide crackdown on catalytic converter theft