NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio – Thieves targeting catalytic converters have affected at least nine cars and trucks parked at repair shops along Lorain Road in recent weeks, according to North Olmsted police reports.
Two of these thefts went to Advanced Diagnostics Auto Repair.
“You start looking over your shoulder and you understand that there are some people who are not by your side,” owner Jay Petek said.
After the first case in late December, Petek said it upgraded its security cameras.
In a few weeks, it bore fruit. The cameras captured a clear video of a man and woman appearing to be working as a team stealing a catalytic converter from a van that was parked waiting for repairs.
The robbery occurred on a Sunday afternoon when the store closed.
Petek said that when the mechanics started the van to take the repairs, they knew immediately that they had been hit again.
“We went to pull the vehicle and there it was, very loud,” Petek said. “Right now you know what it is.”
Catalytic converters are part of car exhaust systems. They can also be valuable to thieves who abandon them for quick cash.
“There are precious metals involved,” Petek said. “It’s platinum. It’s worth some money based on the metals in the converters.”
Police reports show the thieves also hit a nearby maintenance facility where trucks and a car dealership were parked in recent weeks.
As the thefts add up, so does the price of Petek’s repairs, which has covered the costs of replacing stolen catalytic converters in its parking lot.
He said replacements can cost between $ 500 and $ 1,500.
“We don’t want to buy catalytic converters, I want to promise,” Petek said.
He hopes someone will recognize that the couple he caught on camera steals from his store and calls the police, hoping to put the brakes on this chain of thefts.
“I understand times are tough,” Petek said, “but if you need a job, come see me. I don’t need to be robbed.”
North Olmsted police said officers are following directions trying to identify the thieves.
They said two ways to protect their cars is to park inside a garage or park in a well-lit area near the entrance of a building.