Quick, check your vehicle, does it still have a catalytic converter attached?

Like the rest of the nation right now, Sioux Falls is experiencing a rash of catalytic converter theft.

Officer Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department told Dakota News Now, on Monday (September 19) alone, the PD received reports of 10 separate cases of catalytic converters being stolen.

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According to Dakota News Now, in a few of the cases, the vehicles had not been driving for some time, making it extremely difficult to know when the catalytic converters were taken.

What is a catalytic converter and why are they being stolen?

If you're not a motorhead or gearhead type, simply put, a catalytic converter is part of your vehicle's exhaust system. It contains a catalyst for converting pollutant gases into less harmful ones.

The folks at Carfax say thieves find this device attractive to steal because they contain precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium whose price has skyrocketed lately due to limited resources and disruptions in supply chains.

Believe me, you'll know right away if your catalytic converter has been stolen.

Your car, truck, or SUV will sound obnoxiously loud when the device has been removed. And if it has been stolen, you're not going to like what you'll have to pay to get it fixed. Without warranty coverage, Carfax says you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 to get your converter replaced.

What are the most common vehicles thieves appear to be targeting right now?

According to Carfax, here in the Midwest, catalytic converters are being stolen most frequently from a various range of model year Ford F-Series trucks, Chrysler 200's, the Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Avengers, Honda CR-Vs, Chevrolet Silverado pickups, Toyota Camrys, and Honda Accords.

Dakota News Now reports, up to this point, the catalytic converter theft has not been concentrated in one particular area of Sioux Falls.

At this time, police are in the process of investigating and do not know if all the cases are somehow related.

Source: Dakota News Now/ Carfax

Worst Places to Live in South Dakota

A surprising town was named the worst place to live in all of South Dakota and the reason behind it is a bit unexpected.

Money Inc. made a list of the 20 worst cities and towns to live in all of South Dakota and no part of the state is left unmarked.

The list focused on a number of key factors, including crime rate, unemployment, low wages, and school funding.

So which city is the "worst" in South Dakota, according to the article? Read on:

9 Driving Laws in South Dakota that Might Surprise You, Some You Didn't Know Existed

There are some things you can do on South Dakota roads that you may have once thought illegal but aren't. Like, can you ride in the back of a pickup, or drive barefoot in South Dakota?

While perusing the South Dakota Department of Public Safety I was reminded of some things that come up in conversation quite often.

Here are a few to ponder:

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