EL CAJON, Calif. — Thieves were caught on camera early Friday morning, right in the driveway of an El Cajon home targeting a car’s catalytic converter. That car part helps burn off emissions and allows your car to operate more efficiently.
"They're recycling them for a good amount of money," Kelley said. It's all about who they know and where they can take it, to buy it," Nathan Kelley said, who is the manager at Express Performance Center in Santee.
He says it's the metal these thieves are after and they then most likely sell to a recycle or scrap yard.
Some can go for more than $2,000, while victims are stuck with an even higher price tag to get it fixed.
It took at least four suspects, in two separate vehicles less than three minutes to steal the part.
Alex Piscitelli lives in El Cajon near where the theft happened despite multiple Ring cameras, security signs and a '"big dog" warning.
"They obviously know what they're doing, they're organized," Piscitelli said.
He said his neighbors texted him about the theft this morning.
"I feel for them, it's really bad," he said.
Statistics from State Farm show Californians filed 5,400 claims last year. It was nearly double that in 2022 with insurance companies having to pay out more than $54 million.
Assembly Bill 641 may be the reason for the decline. It became law on January 1, increasing the fine for those caught with this specific stolen metal or dismantling them without a license.
Kelley says the Honda Accord, Prius, Excursion and Ford F series are consistently the top targets.
The first steps to take if you come out to find yours stolen, call law enforcement, call your insurance and then head to a mechanic.
Also park in a garage or at least a well-lit area and engrave your VIN number on that car part.
Kelley says you’ll know right away if your catalytic converter has been stolen. You’ll hear a loud rumbling noise as you turn on the engine. It is safe to drive, but you will want to head straight to a repair shop.
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