Police in Atlanta, GA, say thieves have targeted vehicles parked in a Wal-Mart parking lot several times during the past month. With the right saw, it only takes the thieves a minute or two steal a catalytic converter.

Below is the article as it appeared on the MyFOX ATLANTA website.

Catalytic Converter Thieves Hit Metro

Updated: Thursday, 29 Apr 2010, 11:30 PM EDT
Published : Thursday, 29 Apr 2010, 11:30 PM EDT

By Justin Gray

ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) – There has been a rash of catalytic converter thefts in Henry County and other parts of Metro Atlanta. A car alarm won’t prevent the theft and it cost hundreds of dollars to repair.

"You just put the blade right there, wouldn’t take more than a [second] to cut right through it," said mechanic Shaun Kent.

Kent replaces catalytic converters regularly at Southeast Auto and he said unfortunately thieves can quickly steal the parts in a parking lot.

"[It takes] just a minute or two with the right saw and everything," said Kent.

Police said thieves have targeted a parking lot at a Wal-Mart in Henry County several times this month.

"They’ll just go from one to the next right up under each one of them and they’re out in a flash," said Captain Jason Bolton of the Henry County Police Department.

Police said surveillance cameras caught pictures of an early 1980’s model Chevy or GMC they think the thieves are driving.

"This is a catalytic converter that’s been cut out of a car. What the thieves are after is this part inside, that’s been coated in a thin solution of precious metals," said Kent.

"On a good day they might get $70 to $1,200 for it but it’s costing the victim much more than that unfortunately," said Capt. Bolton.

Rachel Conrad was the victim of a catalytic converter theft while she was at work.

"I just came back from work, walking to my car and turned it on and it made a really funny sound, sort of like if you need a muffler," Conrad recalled.

Conrad soon discovered that someone cut out her catalytic converter.

"You’re irritated, you have to go to all the trouble to fix it for someone who wanted the part for a hundred dollars of metal," said Conrad.

To read this article on the MyFOX ATLANTA website, visit http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/catalytic-converter-thieves-hit-metro-042910.