Okotoks Food Bank’s truck targeted in catalytic converter theft

It looks like the food bank's truck was a "hot" target for thieves.

Volunteers at the Okotoks Food Bank were left stunned after discovering that their truck’s catalytic converter had been stolen from a secure facility on October 1. According to executive director Bente Yanota, the truck was being kept at a secure location with security measures in place, but the thief was still able to saw off the converter in two places.

The theft has left the food bank to navigate the process of filing a police report and working through insurance to resolve the issue. In the meantime, the food bank has arranged to rent another truck to continue its regular pickups, which are essential to its operations.

The catalytic converter, which is typically worth between $100 and $1,800 in Calgary, depending on the vehicle make and model, was stolen despite the food bank’s efforts to keep it secure. Yanota has since had to learn more about catalytic converters and is exploring preventative measures, such as etching a vehicle’s VIN into the converter.

The Okotoks Food Bank will continue to operate as usual while it waits for its truck to be fixed and will receive a rented replacement truck next week. The food bank will also continue collecting donations as it prepares for its Christmas hamper campaigns.