A newly installed security camera captured the rapid flight of a catalytic converter of a car in the driveway of a house in San Jacinto.
The video shows a man using a jack to lift a Honda Accord owned by a Riverside County woman who said the car had been attacked three times by catalytic converter thieves since September.
The thieves were unable to steal the exhaust emission control device in previous attempts, but left it with expensive repairs.
A man suspected of trying to steal a catalytic converter from an SUV in a Palmdale mall parking lot died when he was hit by the vehicle, authorities said Wednesday.
Ashley, who asked that her last name not be used, said the 2004 Blue Accord has a special place in her heart.
“We have other vehicles, but this is my baby,” she said. “My first new vehicle and my children have learned to drive it.”
The series of burglary attempts convinced Ashley and her husband to install a security camera pointed at the Accord in their driveway. At around 9 a.m. Monday, the couple were out of town when they saw a man lift the Accord and crawl under it with a chainsaw.
Within about a minute, the thief had the catalytic converter removed and was on the run.
“It makes you angry,” Ashley said. “It makes you want to do yourself justice.”
Ashley said she was told there was a six to nine month backorder for a replacement part that would cost around $3,000.
A surveillance camera filmed three men in the middle of a robbery stealing the catalytic converter in the Simi Valley.
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts increased by 1,215% between 2019 and 2021.
State Farm, the state’s largest auto insurer, said it paid $62 million in converter theft claims in 2021. And the company says this year is looking to be worse.
Late last year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a law that increases penalties for theft of catalytic converters and makes it difficult for anyone other than the vehicle owner or an authorized dealer to purchase the part.
This story first appeared on Telemundo 52’s sister station NBCLA. Click on here to read this story in English.