ELKHART — Companies in the Elkhart area are falling victim to catalytic converter thieves, and police say the pollution-control devices cost $1,000 or more apiece to replace.

The latest incident occurred Monday night or Tuesday morning at a manufacturer on C.R. 1, where 76 converters were taken off van chassis.

Several other companies, primarily north of Elkhart, have reported thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles since December.

Even before this week’s theft, the number of converters stolen locally numbered more than 200, according to information compiled by Lt. Travis Adamson of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department.

Catalytic converters have been around since 1975. They convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions before they leave a vehicle’s exhaust system.

Adamson said catalytic converters are so costly to replace because they contain platinum, palladium and rhodium, all precious metals.