Peter Arapis, owner of Cape Breton Salvage and Parts Inc. in Gardiner Mines, shows a Dodge diesel catalytic converter worth about $2,000 and a smaller one from a GM Grand Am worth about $400. The purchasing of these parts is a major part of his business. Police say there are spikes in thefts of these parts when the market for the precious metals inside catalytic converters is high. Sharon Montgomery-Dupe • Cape Breton Post 