Theft Of Catalytic Converters On The Rise Across South Florida

HOLLYWOOD (CBSMiami) – It’s beauteous unthinkable to ticker location surveillance video seizure crooks successful a pricey BMW propulsion up to a Hollywood location astatine 5:30 p.m. Friday.

In seconds, they’re retired the doorway with a jack, looking to bargain a catalytic converter.

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Someone wrong the location noticed arsenic the car was being lifted.

“My hubby saw them done the camera, spell to the model and (he) deed the model and they tally away,” said the homeowner, who did not privation to beryllium identified.

The video shows the thieves tossing the tools backmost successful the car and battling each different to get into the backmost seat. In seconds, they’re disconnected – driving crossed the tract to get distant accelerated earlier they could decorativeness the job.

WATCH: Surveillance Video Of Thieves Targeting Catalytic Converter

Now, the homeowners are keeping their cars down a locked gate.

“If radical are susceptible of doing that happening astatine that time, what other tin they bash erstwhile radical are sleeping successful their house?” the homeowner said.

G from G Exhaust successful Davie explains the theft of “cats,” arsenic they’re called, are precise common.

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“I get probably four, 10 a week,” G said.  “Guys coming successful saying, ‘I got a clump of sound nether my car.’ Ninety percent of the clip it’s a stolen cat.”

A van connected G’s rack was 1 of respective vehicles deed successful a Davie Plaza.

“I had 2 vehicles present parking,” gathering proprietor Moshe Adoni pointed out.  “I came Monday the cats was missing.”

He said he’s been deed truthful galore times helium has a hard clip sleeping.

“I travel successful the morning, I spell nether the car each azygous greeting to spot which feline is missing.  It’s already routine, mundane routine,” helium said.

Det. Daniel Sanchez is with BSO’s Burglary Apprehension Team.

“There’s an summation successful those thefts that person been occurring successful the tri region area.” Det. Sanchez said.

They’ve made respective arrests successful this benignant of theft. He told CBS4’s Ted Scouten the large payoff for crooks is what’s inside.

“These catalytic converters incorporate precious metals similar platinum.  They are being melted and sold to jewelers crossed the nation,” helium said.

So however bash you support yourself? Park successful a fenced country oregon successful the garage. Or bargain a elemental defender that tin acceptable implicit the catalytic converter.

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The outgo to regenerate a stolen catalytic converter is, connected the average, betwixt $300 and $600. For immoderate specialties cars that terms soars to implicit $3,000.

Ted Scouten