Image: CarDomain.com

The Chevy Cavalier was a pretty popular car in its over 20-year run, but with much newer Chevys hitting even used car lots by the dozens these days, fewer and fewer people are finding value in the long-produced Chevy. However, that’s not the case in Chicago, where seemingly one select group is having a hey-day over Cavaliers. Why you ask? Well, because according to the Daily Herald, the group is scoring big stealing the models’ catalytic converters.

Image: AutoAnything.com

So, we all know what catalytic converters are and how much a pain in the butt they can be if your state requires them on even performance cars. But what you might not know is that they contain a certain amount of platinum that some thieves find valuable enough to vandalize your vehicle by stealing the cats right off the bottom. Oddly enough, the catalytic converters on Chevy Cavaliers have more platinum in them than cats from other vehicles, according to GM official’s statement made to Mount Prospect Crime Prevention Officer Greg Sill, making them even more appealing to steal by certain groups who aim to profit by selling the cats for scrap.

According to Chicago-area Mount Prospect Police, six catalytic converters were stolen off of Chevy Cavaliers in the area between April 2nd and April 4th, five of which were stolen off of cars in Mount Prospect and one which was stolen off a Cavalier in Arlington Heights. Other vehicles have also been targeted by the thieves in the area, including a Pontiac Sunfire and a Toyota 4Runner in the past month.

Officers believe the thieves to be part of a group that may travel from area to area, making off with their stolen property and then leaving the area. If you have any information regarding the theft of any more catalytic converters or the identities of the thieves, you are encouraged to call your local law enforcement agency.