Ron DeBrock, Hearst Illinois
July 9, 2022
A Macoupin County business owner was accused of failing to keep required records of catalytic converter purchases and of purchasing catalytic converters without attachment.
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CARLINVILLE — A Macoupin County business owner has been accused of failing to keep required records of catalytic converter purchases and of purchasing catalytic converters without mounting.
Both charges are misdemeanors under state law, which went into effect on May 27. The law seeks to stem the nationwide rise in catalytic converter theft by regulating the companies that buy them. Before the law, companies were allowed to buy converters without keeping records. Now businesses are required to keep various records, including a photo or video of the seller and the product, to assist law enforcement in tracking potential thefts.
Macopin County Attorney Jordan J. was charged, according to Garrison, Mark A. Schaefer, 36, of Carlinville, was charged after the Illinois State Police Secretary conducted a compliance review with the assistance of Litchfield and Carlinville police. Schaefer runs the Central Core Company in Carlinville.
According to Garrison, an enforcement action found Schaefer had 54 catalysts without the necessary electronic records. It is estimated that catalytic converters cost upwards of $20,000.
If convicted, Schaefer’s business would have to do without all of the state’s catalysts.
“This new law will allow law enforcement to shut down the market for stolen catalytic converters,” Garrison said. “These thieves have nowhere to go to profit from the actions.”
Ron DeBrock is a 40-year-old journalist who has directed publications in Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri. He joined The Telegraph in Alton in 2019 as Editor-in-Chief.
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