A catalytic converters as product isn't really appealing. After all, it's part of a vehicle's exhaust system.
Thieves are attracted to what is inside of a catalytic converter-precious metal worth a lot of money.
"This is a catalytic converter, right here," Pickell said, holding a converter in his hand.
"There are three precious metals in this. The first precious metal is platinum, and platinum is valued at $1,298 an ounce. The second metal in this is palladium, which is $375 an ounce. And then there's rhodium that's $5,950 an ounce."
Thieves make short work of removing them.
"With this saw right here, and they had the battery they just plug in, they had that catalytic converter off in less than 60 seconds," explained Pickell.
It's that fast, and Sheriff Pickell says the men arrested Thursday have done it hundreds of times.
"These two men were not making that kind of money that we arrested. That money is being made by the metal processing," noted Pickell.
If your catalytic converter is stolen, it will cost around $2,000 to replace it.
Pickell says his department was tipped off by General Motors security personnel about two men stealing the converters.
The sheriff's department set up surveillance and followed the two men around. Deputies say the accused thieves went to several park and ride lots, looking for just the right vehicle.
It wasn't until the two crossed over into Saint Clair County that they found a target. It was there, deputies say, they witnessed the men sealing the converter from a car in less than a minute.
The sheriff says the two suspects drove back into Genesee County and sold the converter for $90 to a metal processing center. That's when they were arrested.
