ORONO – The University of Maine hasn’t been left out of the latest motor trend: theft of catalytic converters from cars and trucks.

In the past two weeks at least five converters have been taken from beneath large vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles and trucks, UM Public Safety Chief Noel March said Wednesday.

“We’re increasing surveillance of our parking lots,” March said.

Across the country and into Canada, the trend is to steal catalytic converters by cutting them out from beneath vehicles.

“It’s the latest trend because of the price of metal,” March said. All of the thefts at UM have occurred during the night.

The targets are mostly trucks and sport utility vehicles that are high enough off the ground that the thieves don’t have to jack up the vehicle to get at the part. Foreign models are worth more than domestic.

The parts contain a trio of metals – platinum, rhodium, and palladium – that have a relatively high scrap value.

As a vehicle’s exhaust passes through a converter, it changes hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides into water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, reducing harmful emissions.

Catalytic converters have been required by law on every motor vehicle operated in the United States since 1975.

March encourages anyone who witnesses someone who seems to be working under a vehicle on campus to contact Public Safety at 581-4040. Tips also may be given anonymously at www.umaine.edu/publicsafety. Click on the campus eyes link.

“We would rather assist someone in wiring up their muffler than miss someone stealing catalytic converters,” March said.