El Centro Police are investigating another theft of catalytic convertors.
The theft was reported at about 9:30 a.m. Friday. The catalytic convertors were taken from two vehicles. The theft is one of several reports of the emissions device being cut off. The device is intended to reduce emissions from vehicle exhaust and contains rare earth metals that can be recycled. It typically takes just a minute to cut the convertor from the vehicle. The cost to replace a catalytic convertor can be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. The vehicle is usually inoperable after the theft because the muffler and other parts of the exhaust system also cut off.