That's been going on here for several years here, some localities have cracked down on requirements for salvage dealers some have not. In the past no records had to be kept. We live on the state line so no problem with the crooks going across the line. Not only catalytic converters are stolen, buses here have had the copper stripped out, several buildings burnt because of copper thieves. Several campers with the old style shore power cords had them cut off & stolen at an RV dealership, outside AC units were being stolen for scrap from churches & other businesses, but the last straw was when the thieves started stealing manhole covers from the city for scrap. That's what happened when the unemployment rate got to 20% plus here.