Catalytic converters stolen off cars parked at Ford Airport
CASCADE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Catalytic converters were stolen off vehicles parked in the north lot at Gerald R. Ford International Airport two times this month.
One of them belonged to Patrick Clark of Zeeland. Clark and his girlfriend were traveling to Disney World in Orlando to celebrate her birthday, and he parked his 2010 Chevy Equinox at the airport on April 14.
They parked in the north lot, which is not far from the airport’s entrance. Its proximity makes it a popular spot for long-term parking.
“I probably parked there eight to 10 times in the past,” Clark told News 8 Sunday.
When Clark returned to Grand Rapids the morning of April 18, he started up his vehicle to find something was wrong.
Catalytic converter thefts nearly triple in Kent County this year
“It was just very, very loud,” Clark said. “It was so loud it shook the car.”
Clark knows car mechanics well and had a feeling he knew what happened. He checked underneath his Chevy to find his fear had come true: His catalytic converter had been ripped off.
He could still drive the car, but the noise was blaring.
“I called the insurance as we were driving back … I could barely hear them,” Clark said.
Clark paid $250 for a rental car for a week until a mechanic could replace the converter. Because he had comprehensive insurance, he didn’t pay a cent for the fix. It would have cost him more than $1,500.
“It does feel very violating that somebody would damage or steal somebody’s property just to get a quick buck,” he said.
Clark isn’t the only one. An airport spokesperson confirmed to News 8 that another catalytic converter was stolen off a vehicle in the north lot this month.
In a statement to News 8, the airport said safety for guests and their belongings remains a top priority.
“Our police regularly patrol all our parking lots as does our parking management partner,” the spokesperson said. “Additionally, we maintain surveillance cameras throughout our property and ensure all lots and outdoor spaces are well lit. If guests ever feel the need to be escorted to their vehicle, our police department is always happy to provide assistance.”
No suspects have been named in Clark’s case.
“You definitely don’t think it’s something that will happen in the airport parking lot where you’re paying for your car to be secure,” Clark said. “It’s very unfortunate.”
Hyundai, GRPD offer anti-theft upgrades at downtown event
The airport is far from the only location where catalytic converters have been stolen from vehicles. Catalytic converter thefts surged in Kent County and nationwide since the pandemic. It’s happened everywhere from public parking lots to at people’s homes.
The Kent County Sheriff’s Office previously told News 8 that 12 thefts in the county in 2020 skyrocketed to 173 in 2021. There were 214 thefts in 2022.
A sheriff’s office spokesperson told News 8 on Thursday there appears to have been a decrease in thefts last year. There were 131 cases where parts were stolen off vehicles.
That doesn’t change much for victims like Clark.
“You think you gotta worry about people breaking into your car, and now you gotta worry about people taking things on the outside of your car,” he said.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
