Originally published as a City of Davis Police Department Facebook post –
“Detectives with the Davis Police Department’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Unit (COPPS) have been conducting a month’s long investigation into the spate of catalytic converter thefts in Davis and Yolo County.
In Davis alone, 318 catalytic converters have been reported stolen in the past 12 months. Through their investigation, Detectives were able to identify suspect Steven Rush, a 42-year-old Yolo County resident, who was taken into custody in Woodland on March 2nd, 2022.
Pursuant to a search warrant, Detectives searched his vehicle, a residence in Dunnigan, and a residence in Woodland, where a catalytic converter and multiple tools used in the thefts of catalytic converters were located. Rush was booked into the Yolo County Jail on multiple charges of grand theft, attempted grand theft and conspiracy.
To assist with prevention and identification of stolen property, Center City Automotive in Davis has volunteered to etch vehicle information onto a current customer’s catalytic converter for free while it is at the shop for other types of service. Officers will sometimes conduct vehicle stops and locate catalytic converters, but without some kind of identifying information on the item, they are unable to link the property back to a victim.
If you are the victim of a catalytic converter theft, please report the theft to the Davis Police Department either online or by calling 530-747-5400. Theft reports help the Police Department investigate, identify, and catch would be thieves and develop data to establish trends where officers can conduct more focused patrols.”
