MIAMI – Broward County police are investigating catalytic converter thefts and are looking for the suspects caught on camera.
Surveillance video shows how in less than two minutes, thieves can cut the catalytic converter from your vehicle.
“They took a Sawzall cut through here and cut through here the unit dropped and took off with it,” business owner, Jason Conner said
His business was one out of the two that were recently hit and the two men prowling the properties were caught on camera.
This guy did all the cutting, this guy did all the collecting,” Conner said.
Local 10 published a report on Tuesday where 16 catalytic converters were taken from Ted Conner Landscaping in Pompano Beach.
Lawrence Boyle owns Nanak’s Landscaping in Deerfield Beach and he says four catalytic converters were swiped in the middle of the night.
“It’s easy money for these guys if they are taking 10, 11 they are making bank four or five grand a pop,” Boyle said.
Since the thefts, Boyle has installed cables around his catalytic converters to make it harder for thieves to steal.
These cages or cables will run you anywhere from $250 to $800 each.
Local 10′s Bridgette Matter went to All Florida Scrap Metal in Miami and find out what other business owners are doing to cope with this ongoing problem.
All Florida Scrap Metal owner, Landon Kram, says they won’t buy catalytic converters locally because so many are stolen.
“That’s not our business, we are not looking to buy stolen material,” Kram said.
An increase in calls to sell catalytic converters are coming in daily says Kram.
These business owners who are out on thousands of dollars say they believe police will catch up to the suspects very soon.
“Hopefully your luck is going to run out sooner or later, because now everyone knows what your doing,” Boyle said.
Several other agencies say they are seeing an increase in thefts, including Hallandale Beach police and North Miami Beach police.
Both agencies have warned the public about the uptick in catalytic converters thefts.