MORGAN PARK — Chicago police issued a community alert Monday after catalytic converters were stolen from six vehicles in Morgan Park.
While the exact dates were not released, the incidents all occurred in the early morning hours, mostly from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m., according to Chicago Police Department.
The crimes are believed to be committed by a pair of offenders. The driver first double parks beside a vehicle while keeping it running. Then, another thief slides beneath the vehicle with a power saw and cuts out the catalytic converter, police said.
A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle's emissions control and exhaust system. These devices are often sought by thieves as the precious metals they contain are valuable when sold as for scrap metal. The converters are also relatively easy to remove, taking only a minute to steal.
RELATED: Watch These Thieves Steal a Catalytic Converter in About 1 Minute
The incidents in Morgan Park occurred in the:
• 11100 block of south Artesian Avenue to a Honda Element and Kia Sportage.
• 2300 block of west 111th Street to a Hyundai Tucson
• 10900 block of south Artesian Avenue to a Oldsmobile Cutlass
• 2400 block of west 111th Street to a Pontiac
• 11600 block of south Campbell Avenue to a Kia Sportage.
Anyone with any information about these incidents is asked to call Area South Detectives at 312-747-8273.
RELATED: How to Protect Your Car from Catalytic Converter Thefts
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