Catalytic Converter Thefts in Houston

A colleague, Mike, and I went to the West Oaks mall to buy a gift for another colleague who's last day is Wednesday.  We decided to stop first for lunch at the Applebee's at the periphery of the mall.  We were inside for just over half an hour and when we came out and Mike started his truck the engine roared to life.  The exhaust sound was much louder than it should be so we checked his truck out.  Looking under the Tundra he noticed his catalytic converter had been sawed off. 

As we went into the Mall another Toyota SUV roared to life.  We approached the guy and looked under his truck and sure enough his catalytic converter had been stolen as well.

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When we got back to the office Mike called around and a Toyota dealership told him it would cost $1200 dollars each for the to catalytic converters he needs for his truck.  He then called O'Reilly's Auto Parts and the guy on the other end of the phone told him that he, too, had his stolen recently.

Apparently the thieves were getting $25-$30 a piece at scrap metal places earlier this month when metals were more expensive. 

Not to be outdone my sister had her rental car stolen at a hotel near the airport the Friday before Christmas.

'Tis the season.