PHOENIX — Several neighbors in central Phoenix are taking to social media to warn others after someone stole the catalytic converter from their vehicles.
The thefts reportedly took place over the past month, with some occurring within a mile or two of 5th Street and Osborn Road.
"I got home and I went to start up my car and I heard...sounded like a racecar," said Andrew Eslinger, who says he became a target. "Looked under [the vehicle] and there was this big pile of bolts under there and figured something was wrong."
Eslinger told ABC15 roughly two weeks ago thieves stole two catalytic converters, the device that cleans up emissions before they leave the tailpipe. Another man who lives near 5th Avenue and Osborn Road says thieves stole the catalytic converter from his truck in the middle of August.
"It was expensive and a big headache," Eslinger said, noting the fix cost him nearly a thousand dollars.
Experts say catalytic converters take thieves just minutes to steal and can net them hundreds of dollars on the black market.
"The catalytic converter has precious metals," said Frank Leutz with Desert Car Care Chandler. "Like silver and gold, It's actually rhodium and palladium. So It's very expensive."
Leutz recommends parking in a garage or in well-lit areas to deter thieves. He also encourages you to make sure your car alarm is working and if you become a victim, warn your neighbors to give them a heads up
"What we get is the phone call in the morning 'hey my car is making a loud noise' and they bring it in to the garage and what it is...is a large, loud exhaust noise and certainly you can see where the catalytic converter is missing," Leutz said.
Eslinger told ABC15 he just hopes no one else has this happen to them.
"There's not a whole lot you can do about it," Eslinger said. "Granted, there's more I could probably do to prepare, put cameras up, different things like that...but lessons weren't learned until after the fact."
ABC15 has reached out to Phoenix police to see how many people have filed reports.
