The crooks were bound to be caught a different way, anyway.
I don't know about other states, but in Ohio,
all of the recycling centers require people to
show their driver's license or state ID card
to sell them anything other than cans.
They make a photocopy of it.
That way, when someone comes in selling a dozen catalytic converters,
and recently, a dozen catalytic converters have been stolen,
it's pretty easy to figure out what's going on.
This policy exists because so many people were stealing
copper plumbing and aluminum siding from vacant houses.