Residents are being warned of yet another spike in catalytic converter thefts. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says in the last 90 days, about a dozen reports of catalytic converter thefts were received from San Marcos alone. The part is easily accessed under cars, and can be snatched in just a few minutes. Thieves used to get about $800 for each converter, but now, officials say that's jumped to more than $1,000 each. For the car owner, a lost converter can cost around $4,500 dollars to replace. The Sheriff's Department is continuing to host "VIN" etching events, as well as introducing newer safety measures like specialized alarms or shields.