- Jay Leno described as “scandalous” the fact that criminals with light sentences steal converters
- The comedian told TMZ that it’s a slap on the wrist, which is why thieves are so bold.
Legendary comedian and avid car collector Jay Leno slammed Los Angeles after General Hospital star Johnny Wactor was shot and killed last week by a gang of catalytic converter thieves.
Wactor, 37, was leaving a side job in a rooftop bar on May 25 with a coworker around 3:25 a.m. in downtown Los Angeles when he He confronted three men who were trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.
The thugs shot the soap star dead before fleeing in another vehicle. The masked suspects remain at large and have not yet been identified or described.
leno said TMZ The light penalty for stealing catalytic converters – a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $1,000 – was “shocking”, calling it “a slap on the wrist” if caught, and the reason thieves are so bold .
Jay Leno told TMZ that perpetrators receive a light fine for stealing converters: a misdemeanor and a fine of up to $1,000, “outrageous.”
Johnny Wactor, 37, a veteran of the soap opera General Hospital, was leaving a side job at a rooftop bar on May 25 with a co-worker when he was confronted by three men, who he initially thought were towing his car. , and was shot dead.
Catalytic converters are a valuable commodity to thieves because they contain precious metals including, rhodium, palladium and platinum.
For a standard catalytic converter, thieves can make between $25 and $300, and up to $1,400 with hybrid vehicles, experts say, according to Cross.
The soap opera star’s car was a Toyota Prius, one of the cars most targeted for catalytic converter theft. NBC News reported.
In California, converter theft is considered a misdemeanor if the value of the converter, or any stolen property, is less than $950, which is why certain cars are targeted.
A van seized by the police that was full of catalyst
A stock image of a close-up of a catalytic converter in the exhaust system of a car.
It is illegal to drive without a catalytic converter, and while it may slightly increase performance, it can cause engine problems and is generally not recommended, according to Automatic zone.
Leno also explained that car owners who remove their own converter can face a huge fine.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, California is the state that leads the most in catalytic converter thefts. Texas is in second place.
In the last year, nearly 15,000 catalytic converters have been stolen in the state, according to NBC.
Ford F-150, Ford Explore, Honda Accord, Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota Tacoma, Kia Soul, Chevrolet Traverse and Chevrolet Cruze are the vehicles most targeted by converter theft, according to Carfax.
