Catalytic converter theft is in the news every week. In fact, you may know someone who has had their car's converter stolen.
Lisa McNee is among the tens of thousands of catalytic converter theft victims in the past year.
"The car was parked there, right in front of the house," she said about her recently stolen converter.
She provided us doorbell camera video which showed a shadowy figure pulling up to her car at night, leaving her with over a $1,000 repair bill.
Shop owner Matt Overbeck of Overbeck Auto Services in Ohio said thieves can remove converters -- filled with valuable rhodium and palladium -- in seconds. They then sell them for big bucks.
"Some of these converters now have a scrap value of a $1,000," Overbeck said.
You then have to pay double that to have a new one installed.
What can you do to prevent catalytic converter thefts?
Short of locking your car in a garage, nothing is 100% foolproof. The simplest thing to do is make sure you park in a secure, well-lit area at night.
But if you have to park on the street, or in a dark lot, there are some extra steps you can take.
Overbeck says you can now protect your vehicle with a shield for around $200-$300.
"Some companies have begun to make guard shields, to cover your catalytic converter," he said.
It's a lightweight metal plate that is bolted onto the car's frame, so a thief can't easily cut it off.
Amazon has cheaper options like catalytic converter locking cables for around $150, or you can buy a simple motion sensor alarm for just $30.
Marc Duebber of Duebber's Auto Repair in Ohio tested out a $29 motion sensor alarm.
Duebber looked over the device, which you strap onto your car's exhaust pipe with a small heat shield to keep it from melting. He put batteries in the alarm and remote control, then put a Ford Escape up on a lift and strapped on the alarm. After setting the alarm with the provided remote, he gave the tailpipe a tap to test it out.
It worked. On the third light tap, a loud alarm sounded that could be heard throughout the repair shop. Duebber, however, wonders if it's enough to scare away a thief.
"A determined thief," he said," would probably keep cutting and take the converter anyway."
The easiest thing? Park in a well-lit area and avoid street parking overnight if possible, that way you don't waste your money.