Catalytic Converter Thefts On The Rise In OKC

Gone in 30 seconds, thieves are striking quick as they steal catalytic converters from cars, police said. 

Collision Clinic, an auto repair shop, said have seen a lot of theft victims come in who need repairs.

The shop's General Manager Jeff Grove said the thieves can almost work like a NASCAR pit crew. 

They pull up to a parked car, and drive off moments late. People don't know they've been a theft victim until they get in their car to drive away.

"Crew of people pulls up and they got people watching in the front and the pack and two guys slide underneath the car and just cut them off and they're gone. Within a minute," explained Grove.

Catalytic converter thefts plague Oklahoma City car owners as vehicles sitting in store or work parking lots are more like sitting ducks to those who want to make a quick buck.

"There's a couple of different things, but I think the main thing is the platinum that's in them," Grove said. "We've had a couple of cars that have been here twice. We replaced them once, and within a month, it was back having it replaced again."

Experts said converters are taken to recycling or scrapping businesses and sold. The owner of OKC Kayak went to a scrap yard and got an employee's converter back after thieves cut it out in the middle of the day. That happened over the summer.

"There's no way that cut at such at a jagged angle that it would piece back in like a puzzle piece," said owner Dave Lindo. "It's a great market for them but it's very punishing for the victim of the crime."

It's costly to replace the part, especially if a vehicle had more than one stolen.

"Anywhere from $1,200, and I've had them as high as $6,000," said Grove.

Since November 1, scrap metal businesses are required to check proof of ownership from scrap sellers selling catalytic converters. 

News 9 went by the scrap business where Lindo found the stolen converter at earlier this year. 

The owner said they started to ask for proof of ownership after Lindo's part was identified as stolen. Since then, she said they have noticed they've seen a big drop off in business, too.

"We got six converters in the box this whole week plus what we just bought from Wilson Ford, compared to how many before (the law), (it was) 300," she said.

Grove said he's noticed thieves are more likely to steal converters from vehicles that sit high off the ground like trucks and SUVs.