Gone in 51 Seconds: Catalyst thieves need no time at all to strip one from your car

Theft of catalytic converters has grown into a massive issue for the United States and the rest of the world; as this video shows, experienced thieves need less than a minute to finish their job – from pulling up in a car to driving away.

According to the Twitter account of the Pierce Administrative District, Wisconsin, USA, this particular theft was carried out by a duo of perpetrators who pulled up to the scene on a white Acura TL and stripped the catalyst off a Ford F-250, likely using compact-sized, battery-powered cutters.

Catalytic converters are commonly used nowadays to neutralize harmful substances in the exhaust gases. They have been lately become a popular target for thieves due to the palladium and rhodium contained within. In the United States, an ounce of palladium may cost as much as $2,400, and rhodium is a by whole order of magnitude more expensive than that.