I don't quite understand why the authorities can't hit these guys in the supply line. Make it impossible to shift a bare catalytic converter by cracking down on scrap merchants who would be buying them.
I suspect with Catalytic Converter thefts, the CATs are small enough and light enough to be shipped abroad
They were eventually caught with container loads of cat's on their way to Europe.
And then you sell it to an actual rhodium mine who just so happens to be particularly productive that month.
Surely its easier to keep an eye on all rhodium mines, rather than trying to keep an eye on all scrap metal yards.
There must be limited facilities with the ability to extract and purify the rhodium content.
For the same reason that they don't shut down the pawn shops buying stolen goods right across the street from the payday loan place.
Because it requires actual police work, and because the people running them are 'local businessmen' with pull.