Our friends at the Chicago Police Department 's 9th District shared this information on preventing theft of catalytic converters. This has been a recurring crime problem in McKinley Park and other areas of Chicago, and there's a number of things you can do to mitigate theft.

As noted in the November meeting for CAPS Beat 912 , some of the catalytic converter theft gangs are armed, so if a resident suspects a crime in progress, he or she should not try to accost the perpetrators, but instead immediately call 911. A catalytic converter is a critical component of your car's exhaust system and costs up to $2,000 to replace.

Why do thieves target catalytic converters?

• Contains expensive metals
• Takes less than two minutes to remove
• Has a street value of $150 to $200 each

For theft prevention:

• Park in a well-lit area
• Engrave your VIN number onto your catalytic converter
• Install a car alarm with a trigger sensor
• Install a catalytic converter lock

If you see a crime in progress, call 911.