An Edinburgh resident caught a masked gang cutting off a car part in a residential area on Tuesday evening.
In a video shared online, a group of three masked people can be seen cutting a catalytic converter off a car in a car park in Northfield, Edinburgh on March 14.
The eyewitness told Edinburgh Live that the incident took place at around 8pm on Elixa Place and it took the group around 15 minutes to cut off the car part before they fled the scene.
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According to the resident, three of them worked together to take the catalyst off a car. They were all wearing masks and then three of them ran while a car then went to pick them up.
As they run, one can be seen holding the part.
As RAC explain, catalytic converters contain metals that help to reduce harmful emissions leaking from exhausts. But when the price of metals rise, it can lead to a surge of thefts.
It adds: "The materials contained within like platinum, palladium and especially rhodium have shot up in value in recent years.
"Since the parts are easily accessed, the crime itself is a relatively quick one for thieves to carry out."
The price of catalytic converter theft is estimated to cost car insurance customers an average of £1,500 and in some more serious cases, it can lead to cars being a write off.
Police confirmed the theft was reported to officers and "enquiries are ongoing."
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