A surge of catalytic converter thefts has Kansas Citians rethinking where they park

Catalytic converters are built with platinum, palladium and rhodium — metals that have skyrocketed in value in recent years — making the car parts targets for theft.
Thefts of catalytic converters are up four-fold in Kansas City and the problem doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Catalytic converters are anti-pollution devices on the bottom of almost all gas-burning cars. As the value of metals contained in them increases, so do the number of thefts.

"It's almost every day, or at least a few every few days, it's a pretty regular occurrence," said Sergeant Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department.

Thieves can remove a catalytic converter quickly, often in less than two minutes, so thefts can occur in broad daylight.