Winnipeg man stops catalytic converter thief days after buying new vehicle

A Winnipeg man says he confronted someone who was trying to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle. CTV’s Daniel Halmarson reports.

A Winnipeg man is concerned catalytic converter thefts are on the rise after nearly falling victim Monday morning.

Harvey Tschetter and his wife purchased a brand-new Mitsubishi RVR last week after their previous vehicle was written off in an accident.

“We like the fuel economy and everything about it,” Tschetter told CTV News Monday. “It’s a 2026, and it’s got about 50 kilometres on it.”

However, he was woken up early Monday by someone more than just admiring his new ride.

Tschetter said he heard a saw cutting through metal shortly before 5 a.m. He went outside his Henderson Highway condominium to look around but didn’t see anyone or anything.

“So I just went back in and I was about to put my head down, but this time I heard the tap, tap, tap of the hammer,” Tschetter explained. “I ran out to see a car parked beside my car this time. I ran out screaming, ”What are you doing in my car?’”

Tschetter said a man crawled out from underneath his Mitsubishi RVR and threatened him with a hammer before taking off in the other vehicle.

“I was outraged. I mean, how brazen they were,” Tschetter said. “It’s 5 a.m. It’s completely light out.”

Tschetter looked under his car to see the catalytic converter dangling inches above the pavement. He believes the man was trying to steal it.

“You’re just trying to make your way in the world, and you got criminals stealing from you the moment you bring it home.”

The car part contains several precious metals and is often sold to scrap dealers.

In 2022, nearly 1,800 catalytic converter thefts were reported to the Winnipeg Police Service.

In response, the province introduced its Scrap Metal Act to help combat the crime, which came into force in 2022. It requires dealers to record identifying information about the seller along with details about the transaction.

According to MPI data, catalytic converter theft claims filed with the Crown corporation in Winnipeg dropped sharply from over 1,900 in 2022 to just 432 the following year.

The province also launched an initiative where owners can get catalytic converters engraved with the vehicle identification number to help deter theft and unlawful resale.

By 2024, catalytic converter theft claims reported to MPI in Winnipeg had fallen to fewer than 100, but Tschetter thinks thefts are on the rise yet again after calling an autobody shop Monday.

“They said they received about ten calls in the last 30 days, and that was just one shop,” Tschetter said.

A Winnipeg police spokesperson told CTV News there has been an anecdotal uptick in catalytic converter thefts but was unable to provide current statistics on Monday.

“Our property crime unit is aware of recent reports and is in the process of investigating,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

The spokesperson is encouraging vehicle owners to get their catalytic converters engraved, consider installing a hardened-steel cage or shield around the part, and said some car alarm systems can be adjusted to detect vibrations caused by cutting tools.

According to MPI data, catalytic converter theft claims in Winnipeg have already reached 162 in 2026—nearly matching the total number of claims for all of 2024 and 2025 combined.