Spokane, Wash. -- Spokane area thieves have come up with a new way to steal from you while they're lying down on the job.

Crooks are actually crawling underneath our cars and cutting off the catalytic converters.

Brian Graham, a mechanic at The Muffler Mart says most victims are unaware the converter is missing until they turn the ignition.

"Well when they start it up it sounds like an eight v-8 truck, they say uh-oh something's the matter," Graham said.

Catalytic converter theft in Spokane started going up along with the price of precious metals. The converters contain platinum, rhodium and palladium.

About twice a week Muffler Mart mechanics replace ones that have been stolen.

"We've had people tell us it happens right in their driveway, in the middle of the day, where they're parked at work. Even in car lots under surveillance cameras," Graham explained.

The thieves take their stolen converters to local recycling centers where they get paid about $30 dollars for their efforts.

Car owners will spend about $300 replacing a catalytic converter.

Thieves seem to prefer Toyota trucks and SUVs because they sit higher off the pavement and the converters are easier to reach.