BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Every day, people pour into the Pick Your Part auto salvage yard on South Union Avenue to find used parts for a low cost.

So when Tom Cedro needed parts for his vehicle, he went straight to the auto salvage company.

"I parked my truck in their parking lot about 50 yards from where you check in," he recalled. "I went in (and) was in there for about an hour looking for parts."

After finding the parts he needed for only $10, Cedro thought he found a good deal. Little did he know, that $10 in parts was going to cost him a whole lot more.

"When I came out, I started my truck up, and it was a loud sound like the muffler had blown," he said.

Concerned about the noise, Cedro took the truck to a repair shop to get it checked out.

"They said the catalytic converter was stolen," he said.

According to Cedro, the mechanic said it was pretty obvious the part had been pilfered.

"(The part) had two flanges," described Cedro. "(The thief) took the bolts directly out of it and removed the catalytic converter. (The mechanic) said it usually takes somebody at least a good half hour to take it out."

The stolen part cost Cedro $230 to replace.

Upset about the theft, Cedro went back to Pick Your Part and complained to the manager. According to Cedro, the manager told him they had thefts of catalytic converters in the past and were aware of the problem, but there was nothing the salvage yard could do.

Cedro said if Pick Your Parts is aware of the problem, they should do something about it.

"At least prevent thefts from happening," he said. "If they see someone working on a car, obviously they had to get under the truck to do it."

Pick Your Part company Vice President Cindi Galfin said people are prohibited from working on their cars in the parking lot, and the salvage yard has gate guards who monitor the entrance and parking area.

As for the theft, she said signs are posted that states the company is not responsible for theft or damage to a vehicle.

"I just took it for granted that your vehicle's going to be safe, because it's on their property," Cedro said.

Galfin said that catalytic converter thefts were big in the past, but they have slowed down significantly. She said the thefts would take place in their salvage yard, not the parking lot.

Galfin offered to replace, Cedro's catalytic converter, but because it was already replaced, there wasn't much else they can do.