FREEPORT — Freeport police are investigating a series of thefts in which catalytic converters were cut from vehicle exhaust systems.

The thefts appeared to have happened Monday night in three separate locations, said Lt. Susan Nourse. The catalytic converter, which removes toxic substances from auto emissions, can be worth $100 as scrap because they contain platinum.

One was taken from a Volvo C90 parked at the town hall parking lot between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., another from a Honda Pilot at the Harraseeket Inn between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. and a third from a Ford cargo van at the J.L. Coombs parking lot on Route 1 South. The latter was parked overnight and the damage was discovered Tuesday morning.

Police speculate that the three large cars were targeted because they are easy to climb under to cut the exhaust component free.

The thief used a tool, perhaps a rechargeable reciprocating saw, to cut the pipe in front of and behind the catalytic converter.

Nourse said that local police have not seen such thefts recently, but that Durham and Lisbon experienced similar thefts last summer.

The scrap price of certain metals used in industry, like copper and platinum, has increased as the economy has rebounded after the recession.

Scrap catalytic converters might fetch close to $100 from a scrap dealer in a legitimate transaction. Repairs can cost 10 times that.

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