Senate bill addresses catalytic converter theft

Dimmitt FCCLA students competed at the State Leadership Conference in Dallas this weekend.
Dimmitt FCCLA students competed at the State Leadership Conference in Dallas this weekend.

The Senate approved a bill that would make the possession of a loose catalytic converter itself a crime.

The bill was spurred by skyrocketing catalytic converter theft in the state, with thieves sliding under cars to cut out the emissions-reducing devices to get at the grams of rare earth metals inside. Converters can be stolen in just a few minutes, meaning even cars parked in commercial parking l…