Burnaby seniors planned outings after COVID rules eased. Then thieves stole their catalytic converter

After months stuck under COVID-19 restrictions, residents of a long-term care home in Burnaby were recently able to resume outings into the community.

Those trips have been halted after someone stole the catalytic converter from a passenger bus belonging to Seton Villa Retirement Centre in the 3700-block of McGill Avenue.

Residents of the facility had only recently been able to use the bus for grocery trips and other outings after months of pandemic restrictions kept them cooped up.

1:20 Thefts of catalytic converters at an all time high across Lower Mainland

Seton Villa executive director Michele Cook said there have been no COVID cases among the facility’s 230 residents and 90 staff members.

“We’ve really worked hard to make sure everyone’s safe, we’ve done everything right,” Cook said. “We were just tasting freedom and we’ve had it taken away and it’s a shame.”

Repairs are expected to take a week and cost around $1,500.

Cook said they filed a report with police and sent them security video footage. Once the bus is up and running, Cook said they will take additional measures to ensure the catalytic converter won’t be stolen again.

Anyone with surveillance or dashcam footage showing Trinity Street at about 5:30 a.m. on June 20 is asked to contact Burnaby RCMP.

Earlier this year, Vancouver police warned that catalytic converters are increasingly being targeted by thieves because of the precious metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium —  contained inside of them.

— With files from Amy Judd