Thieves are targeting catalytic converters in cars as prices of some rare metals used in them have hit records this year. Catalytic converter thefts have quadrupled in New York over the last year. The thefts have also been reported in other parts of the world including the UK and Japan. Thieves are going after car parts as prices of rare metals in catalytic converters hit new highs this year.Theft of the devices, which are a part of a car's exhaust that converts smog to less harmful emissions, have quadrupled over the last year, according to the New York Post.Through Oct.