Clarksdale police are were recently called to the 400 block of Third Street after someone stole three catalytic converters from vehicles parked in the area.
Police are investigating the incident as the theft of catalytic converts has risen and are warning the public.
Thieves can take a hand held power saw and cut the converter off the bottom of a car in a matter of minutes.
The converters – valued at about $300 are sold for about $100 each – to shady scrap metal dealers, who sell them for the exotic metals found in the anti-pollution device.
The community is urged to call police immediately if they hear the squeal of metal being cut in their neighborhood.
The theft typically occurs at night, but a theft at a local doctor’s office occurred in the middle of the day after a woman went inside as a patient for about an hour.
The incident was captured on video, but the thief apparently knew where cameras were and police have had difficulty getting a tag number or detailed description of the thief.
