After having catalytic converters stolen off his vehicle several times, a fed-up man set out to catch the thieves. When he finally spotted the man causing him so much grief, he decided to take matters into his own hands.
With his work van parked in Dallas’ Design District, professional photographer Clay Hayner had become an easy target for thieves. Four separate times, thieves had cut out the catalytic converter from underneath his vehicle in order to make some quick money, he told KDFW.
Fed up with the crooks, Hayner was determined to catch them in the act. He set up a Ring security camera to keep an eye on his vehicle at all times. When he received a notification that someone was lurking around his van, he set out to put an end to the pilfering once and for all.
Clay Hayner watched as the man slid under his van and went to work trying to remove the converter. Having seen enough, Hayner then stepped outside to confront the thief and salvage his property.
When Hayner interrupted the thief, he says the suspect brandished a knife, KXAS reported. It was then that Hayner released all the frustration he had compiled from thieves repeatedly targeting his van.
Despite being armed with a knife, the thief was no match for the photographer. With a light stand in hand, Hayner reached under the van and began striking the thief with the metal pole.
After repeated blows, the suspect rolled out from under the vehicle and fled, leaving behind a duffle bag filled with power tools. Hayner explained that this was “the fourth time they’ve tried to take it and they’ve gotten it twice.”
While speaking about the incident, Hayner said he hopes investigators will catch the thief, who had not yet been identified, because he and his neighbors have had enough.
Catalytic converter theft is on the rise as some may sell for over $1,000 apiece. As such, police are warning residents to install protective metal plates over theirs to prevent theft.
While Clay Hayner admits that he isn’t a natural fighter and has “never been in a fight” before that night, he confesses that he would do it again. He believes thieves will continue to target his neighborhood unless he and the other residents start fighting back.
At a time when justice is often absent and criminals are let off the hook, citizens are starting to take matters into their own hands. Hopefully, they will be armed with something a bit more effective than a light stand.
