The Guelph Police Service is urging business owners and residents to remain vigilant following a recent surge in thefts involving catalytic converters and copper wire across the city.
Between April 6 and April 10, 2026, authorities responded to two significant incidents involving the theft of precious metals. In the first case, two catalytic converters valued at more than $15,000 were cut from a truck parked at a business near Woodlawn Road West and Michener Road. Security footage from the incident shows two suspects, both wearing black clothing with their faces covered, arriving at the scene in a red Hyundai Tucson.
Days later, on April 9, 2026, staff at a business on Speedvale Avenue West reported the theft of approximately $7,000 worth of copper wire. Police arrested a 46-year-old Guelph man in connection with that investigation.
These thefts are increasingly common as the market value for precious metals, including platinum, rhodium, palladium, and copper, reaches record highs. These materials are frequently targeted by thieves because they can be sold to scrap metal dealers. Bell Canada recently reported that copper theft is a growing national issue, logging 1,275 incidents related to its network in 2025 alone, which marks a 40 per cent increase from the previous year.
In response to the rise in incidents, Connie Cody, the Member of Parliament for Cambridge, introduced a private member’s bill in March 2026. If passed, the legislation would make it a criminal offence for scrap metal dealers to trade, traffic, or possess metal known to be stolen. Violations could result in fines of up to $10,000 and jail sentences of up to two years.
The Guelph Police Service advises property owners to increase security measures to deter future thefts. While other regions have implemented programs like vehicle identification number etching or centralized reporting databases to track transactions, police note that these measures have not fully eliminated the issue.
