A theft crew seemed to not have a care in the world as they saw the catalytic converter off of a car in Chicago on Wednesday. The sun was shining brightly, and they didn’t seem to mind when a passerby stopped to record them in action.
“Guys, are you f*cking kidding me?” the witness asks after the deafening sound of an electric saw finally allows him to be heard.
The man was with a woman who later shared the video online, but she asked us not to identify her.
“We approached them and told them it is our neighbor’s car (it’s not)..quite frankly, they didn’t care,” the woman said. “They slowly packed up and threatened us. I called 911, and they just asked about the type of car, and no other info. Really no help.”
Chicago police later met with the couple, she said.
The crew’s getaway car was stolen Sunday in Edgewater, according to Chicago police records.
Cops in Chicago have warned the public not to confront catalytic converter theft teams because many of them are armed. One such group was captured on video last month:
Over the last year, several victims and witnesses have been shot when they intervened.
The theft teams have proven difficult to apprehend because they act quickly and sometimes listen in on local police radio traffic.
On a positive note, however, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has consistently charged alleged catalytic converter thieves with misdemeanors, recently began filing felony possessing a stolen motor vehicle charges instead. Under Illinois law, stealing an essential part of a car is just as bad as stealing the whole car.
Please support CWBChicago’s reporting efforts with a contribution or subscription.
