Thieves in campus parking lots have begun targeting catalytic converters in vehicles’ exhaust systems, stealing 10 in the last 12 days, according to Campus Police Capt. Jon Barnwell.

Catalytic converters contain platinum, he said, and over the past year, criminals have targeted items containing precious metals to recycle in exchange for money.

“We’ve had issues with copper theft from construction sites, and now it’s spilled over to catalytic converters,” Barnwell said.

This type of crime has stayed off campus until the past few weeks, Barnwell said.

The thefts occurred on the Hillsborough Street corridor, Centennial Campus and in the West Lot.

According to Barnwell, two thieves in a pickup truck may be responsible. He said they are using a reciprocating-type saw to cut through both sides of the exhaust system.

“The one person driving is being the lookout while the other person jumps under the vehicle,” he said.

Some thefts can be discouraged with cautionary measures, but Barnwell said there is little to do to prevent these recent types of threats.

“When we talk about [people] breaking into vehicles and say don’t leave your valuables [visible], we can’t ask you to take off your exhaust system before you go to work or school,” he said. “The best way to assist and deter it is to make sure that as you’re pulling in and out of parking lots you report any suspicious activity.”