Burbank Police Officer Interrupts Alleged Catalytic Converter Theft; Suspect Arrested
A Los Angeles County man has been arrested after allegedly being caught in the act of stealing a catalytic converter from underneath a parked car.
According to a press release by the Burbank Police Department, an officer conducting a routine area check in the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 12, noticed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. Approaching the scene, the officer reportedly saw an individual underneath a parked Honda and became suspicious that the individual was attempting to steal the Honda’s catalytic converter.
The officer made contact with the suspect individual, interrupting the alleged theft. The officer reportedly then found a cut catalytic converter, cutting tools, and burglary tools inside the suspect’s vehicle. The catalytic converter found inside the suspect’s vehicle was collected as evidence. The suspect was taken into custody.
Later that morning, a resident reported that their catalytic converter had been stolen. Officers recalled the recovered catalytic converter from the previous night, suspecting it might belong to the reporting party. Officers retrieved the catalytic converter from the evidence room and placed it under the victim’s vehicle.
The catalytic converter in question was confirmed to be the same one recovered the night before, police said. It has since been returned it its rightful owner.
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect’s identity has not been publicly disclosed as of yet. All persons arrested on suspicion of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
