CHARLOTTE -- Catalytic converter thefts have become a problem in the area due to the value of the metals inside of them. Now, police think they might have a way to fight the problem.

“The bigger the catalytic converter typically the more platinum and the more rhodium that's in it so the core value is more,” explained Kevin Brown of Meineke Car Care Center as he engraved a license plate number onto a car’s catalytic converter.

“They just crawl up under [cars] with a cordless saw is all and cut them [out]. It takes them about two minutes and they have your converters off and they’re off to the salvage yard with them,” explained one mechanic.

Six places in the Charlotte area are helping police by offering free engraving.

“It’s easier to prosecute a case obviously when you tie them back to ‘ok, this was stolen on this date and time’ and you’ve got a victim who’s willing to prosecute,” said CMPD Officer Robert Fey.

The thefts have hit the area so hard that one shop is having a hard time keeping the converters in stock to keep us with the criminals.

“It's kind of funny because it's been good for business but … we're citizens and we pay insurance rates just like everybody else and in the end we're all going to pay for it if we don't crack down on it,” said Brown.