4 suspects arrested in connection to series of catalytic converter thefts
Photos: Nevada City PD
Nevada City police have reportedly arrested four people in connection to a string of catalytic converter thefts.
On the morning of Thursday, June 16, police received word from neighboring Grass Valley PD that a vehicle suspected in connection to recent catalytic converter thefts had been seen in the area. Nevada City officers sighted the vehicle along Railroad Avenue and began monitoring its activity.
During this time, police identified a second occupied vehicle seen in the area as an accomplice to the one they were following. As soon as the occupants of the vehicles realized they were being followed however, they separated, police said.
Officers managed to pull the first vehicle over on Dorsey Drive, with other officers from Grass Valley PD intercepting the second one at Highway 49 near West McKnight Way.
In one of the vehicles, officers reportedly discovered a catalytic converter, tools, and ammo, while the other reportedly contained a loaded handgun within reach of one of the occupants. Between the two vehicles, police say two of the occupants were on probation, and two were outstanding suspects (one of them also already on parole).
Further evidence linking the two vehicles was also recovered. During this initial investigation, police received a new report of a catalytic converter that had just been stolen. Police were soon thereafter able to match the recovered converter discovered in the suspect vehicle with the most recent victim’s car.
The suspects have been identified via jail records as 42-year-old Danita Cantu, 36-year-old Doua Xiong, 35-year-old James Xiong, and 41-year-old New Kee Xiong.
All suspects have been taken into custody and booked at the Nevada County jail on numerous charges including grand theft and weapons violations. Both suspect vehicles were also confiscated.
