Catalytic converter thefts lead to repairs and arrests up and down the coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.

Catalytic converts thefts and arrests are on the rise along the coast between San Luis Obispo and Ventura County.

The California Highway Patrol helped Ventura Police arrest three suspects early Tuesday on the 101 near Camarillo Springs.

All three Los Angeles residents are now facing grand theft, and conspiracy to commit grand theft charges.

They said they found several stolen Toyota Prius catalytic converters inside their car.

Detectives located two victims and are still looking for a third.

The arrests and thefts came as no surprise to Robert Ayers. He owners two Ayers automotive repair shops in Santa Barbara.

"Catalytic converters are being stolen because they have rare metals in them platinum, palladium and radium and when theives steal these they take them to the recycler and hey can get about $400 dollars or so for these, but then it cost the consumer upwards of $4000 to fix the car for the damages that were done, said Ayers.

His mechanics are currently repairing a Honda with a missing converter.

Ayers said he gets calls from customers that don't know they their car is so noise. They soon find out they have been targeted by catalytic converter thieves.

The part is needed to reduce the emission of toxic gases unless you have an all electric vehicle.

Ayers said there are parts people can buy to make them harder to steel.

"There is a company out now making like a  cover that you can attach under the car that covers the catalytic converter that is made out of Kevlar so they can't just steal them that easy, " said Ayers.

In many of the thefts neighbors reported hearing a saw sound in the middle of the night.