News 12 at 6 o'clock, March 25, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---There's a part in cars thieves want, not for their own cars, but to get money for the platinum in it.

Kayla Jones knew something was wrong when she started her car and the engine was a lot louder than usual.

"We inspected it a little bit further and it was the catalytic converter," she said.

Someone stole the part from under her car in the parking lot right outside her home.

"They will cut the pipe off in the front of the converter and cut it off in the rear," said Aaron Clements of C&C Automotive in Augusta.

He says it's a crime he's heard more about lately, because of a precious metal in the part.

"The platinum is the metal that's involved in bringing the larger price for the catalytic converter," he said.

This same metal used to make rings and other jewelry can be found in cars made after 1975.

He says trucks and SUV's are targeted more because they're higher up off the ground, making it easier for thieves to get in and get out.

"They will remover the converters in the fastest manner that they can," he said.

Manager Ross Loflin, of Fender's Auto Wrecking, says because of the platinum, the part has a better payout than others.

"The prices vary anywhere from eight dollars to one-hundred dollars," Loflin said.

But Jones says that's not much compared to the $500 to $800 she'll have to pay to replace it.

"It does make me unhappy that we're having to spend money for someone else's crime when they will only get a very small amount of money from a scrap shop," Smith said.

Clements says replacing the part can cost up to $2,000.

Deputies say it's a crime that's hard to prevent, because the part is under the car. The best ways to try are to use a garage or park in a safe place where there are many other cars around.