FORT OGLETHORPE — Police detectives are investigating the thefts of two catalytic converters that were stolen from parked vehicles a couple of miles apart while the owners were inside establishments.

The thefts occurred at two different parking lots approximately three miles apart along Ga. 2 (Battlefield Parkway).

The first incident took place Jan. 6 at the Golden Corral buffet restaurant at 760 Ga. 2 between 6:35 and 7:17 p.m., while the second happened just moments later between 7:10 and 7:17 p.m. at the Beall’s Outlet store located at 2625 Ga. 2.

In both cases the owners of the vehicles left stores and returned to their vehicles to find that their converters had been removed.

According to Lt. Steve Blevins, thefts such as these aren’t uncommon.

“It’s something that we’ve dealt with in the past, and it’s a problem that usually comes in clusters,” Blevins said. “For somebody that knows what they’re doing, they can drop under a vehicle, remove or saw off the converter, and be gone in just a couple of minutes.”

Blevins says the motivation for such thefts of vehicle parts is the various coveted metals in the converters that can be resold.

“Typically, they are wanted for the platinum, copper, rhodium, gold, and any other precious metals that exist in the part,” he said. “The rise in metal values over the years is what makes the part attractive to thieves.”

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