"It sounds like a NASCAR car," said Brea Arthur, revving her car's engine. "It sounds like a race car."
Earlier this month the Wilmington resident had a few too many unpaid parking tickets. Her car was towed to Swift Towing and Recovery in New Castle.
Yesterday she found out her car and about 80 others in the tow yard had their catalytic converters ripped out by thieves.
"I was upset," said Arthur. "It's my fault with the unpaid tickets. I'll take responsibility for that. But I'm not going to take responsibility for thieves taking my catalytic converter."
A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle's exhaust system and it keeps the vehicle from sounding like a race car or outboard motor.
Bob Crawford runs Swift Towing, which has a contract with the city. Crawford says says two weeks ago a worker discovered one missing converter after another.
Sometimes the equipment contains platinum and can be sold for hundreds of dollars at scrap yards.
"We were very upset," Crawford told Action News. "What do you do? You've got people's cars, people who are are coming to pick them up from the city to get released. And they start their car and it's loud."
Swift Towing says the thieves went through hours of work to pull this job off. They had to get under each vehicle, take a power saw and cut off the catalytic converter.
"It has been very costly for the owner," said Crawford.
Crawford does not believe the thefts were an inside job. He says the business has added cameras and more security.
Swift picked a shop and has offered to pay for repairs which could cost $200 to $500 per vehicle.
For her part, Arthur said, "No, thanks."
"I don't want them anywhere near my car," she said.
The Delaware State Police is investigating the thefts.
