From Dan Nguyen:

Reader Michele writes:

Someone cut the catalytic converter right off our truck last night. The sheriff I talked to said they had another call regarding the same issue (antelope area). I've heard of two other exact incidents in the city recently, one in Rio Linda which is close to Antelope and one in the South area. I think the word should get out to the neighborhoods this is happening in. This is serious business.

This seems to be happening a lot these days. For background on this, read Tony Bizjak's March
6, 2008 story on this.

Converters, which reduce vehicle emissions, are a top target for car-part thieves internationally, including Mole Valley, England, where police reportedly advised residents last week to scrawl names and phone numbers on their converters, just in case.

California Highway Patrol officials report thefts are rampant statewide.

Criminals aren't going "green," police say. They're going for the gold. Converters include small amounts of precious metals, including platinum, as well as gold in some newer models. Rising thefts may be linked to spiraling market prices for those metals, according to police.

The Republic newspaper of Columbus, Ind., reports that a man was arrested on suspicion of possessing
$330,000 worth of stolen precious metals from catalytic converters.

I did a quick search in our archives for "catalytic converter" and found
these incidents mentioned in our recent Placer County cops log. All of them
involved Toyota vehicles, particularly the 4-Runner model:

200 block of Bonny Knoll Road, Roseville, breaking or removing vehicle parts. A catalytic converter was stolen from a 1995 Toyota 4-Runner between 10:30 p.m. April 9 and 8:45 a.m. April 10.

1000 block of Hillcrest Avenue, Roseville, theft from a vehicle. A catalytic
converter valued at $200 was stolen from a 1993 Toyota 4-Runner between 9:30
p.m. April 9 and 9 a.m. April 10. The victim told police he discovered the
theft after starting his vehicle and hearing a loud rumbling noise.

300 block of Brennen Circle, Roseville, grand theft. A catalytic converter
valued at $600 was stolen from a 1986 Toyota 4-Runner between 6 p.m. March
30 and 11 a.m. April 2.

3 Somer Ridge Drive, Roseville, vehicle burglary. A $500 catalytic converter
was stolen from a 1993 Toyota pickup parked at the Somersett Hills
Apartments between 8 p.m. March 20 and noon Friday.

5415 S. Grove St., Rocklin, theft. A catalytic converter valued at $250 was
stolen from a 1994 Toyota pickup truck parked at the Hidden Grove Apartments
between 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.

Merganser Court, Rocklin, theft. A catalytic converter valued at $300 was
stolen from a 1998 Toyota Tacoma between 9:30 p.m. March 13 and 4:30 p.m.
March 14.

A side note: At a picnic yesterday, someone told me how a couple years back he witnessed some men stealing a catalytic converter in broad daylight outside of McKinley Park. He and a friend tried to get a picture of the men as they peeled away in their getaway vehicle, but accidentally pressed the power button instead of the shutter!