HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- The numbers don't lie when it comes to catalytic converter thefts showing no signs of slowing down, as crooks keep coming for them in greater Houston.
Houston police said that in 2018, there were only 85 reported incidents of catalytic converter thefts in the city. In 2019, there were 375. In 2020, there were 1,793. By the end of June 2021, officers said there were 2,207 reported incidents.
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We've reported on ordinary people and businesses forced to make pricey repairs. But now, we've uncovered how much the city of Houston has been vandalized. The city released numbers to Eyewitness News only after a public records request.
The numbers show 216 city-owned vehicles were vandalized. In 2020, they reported 88 vehicles. This year to date, they reported 128 vehicles.
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SEE ALSO: This tip could help stop catalytic converter thieves and it'd cost you about $10
The cost of repairs and preventative measures is now $286,828.37. The city reports in 2020, they spent $49,185.78 on repairs. In 2021, they spent $247,642.59 which, broken down, includes $105,663.59 in repairs and $131,979 on deterrent measures.
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