Man killed while apparently stealing catalytic converter

HARRISON, N.Y. (AP) — A man died after a car fell onto him after he had jacked it up to steal a catalytic converter, authorities say.

The police said they found his body early in the morning on Tuesday and deduced that the car jack he had been using had slipped or malfunctioned.

Responders pronounced him dead after taking him out from under the car, the Rockland/Westchester Journal News reported.

Thefts from vehicles increased across the country in 2020 during the pandemic. Catalytic converter contain valuable metals that can be resold, the newspaper reported.