String of catalytic converter thefts leaving car owners worried their vehicles will be targeted
Nassau police say seven catalytic converters have been stolen since Oct. 23.
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A string of catalytic converter thefts around Nassau County has car owners worried that one of their vehicles may be targeted next.
Jimmy T. woke up early last Tuesday morning to a buzzing sound coming outside his home in Massapequa Park.
"I was asleep and it woke me up, the sound of the Sawzall or whatever they use. By the time I got up and looked, in 15 seconds the car took off quickly," Jimmy said. "I saw a car parked on the other side of my car. It was very close to my car."
He says the battery in his 2003 Honda CR-V was dead when the theft happened, so his alarm didn't go off.
When he later charged the battery and turned it on, he realized his catalytic converter was gone.
"Unfortunately, they're good at it. They know what they are doing and probably scout out the areas," Jimmy said.
Another neighbor off camera says he's had issues with vehicle break-ins over the past few years.
"I'm putting up cameras. I'm putting them up in the front and I'm doing that today," said Louis Matulich, who also lives in Massapequa Park. "Some of these vehicles are difficult to repair."
According to Nassau police, thefts have been happening all over the county. At least seven since October 23rd in Williston Park, Westbury, Plainview, Mineola and New Cassel.
"I guess it doesn't matter if they are locked or not because they are getting into them anyway," said Thomas Daniel, who lives in Massapequa Park. "I mean ring cameras and things like that might help, but I don't know what other precautions might be."
