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Catalytic Converter Theft

Police & Fire
Bronx Men Charged With Stealing $34K Worth of Catalytic Converters In Central Jersey: Police Bronx Men Charged With Stealing $34K Worth of Catalytic Converters In Central Jersey: Police
Bronx Men Charged With Stealing $34K Worth of Catalytic Converters In Central Jersey: Police Two men from the Bronx have been charged with stealing dozens of catalytic converters from cars in Central Jersey, authorities said. Omar Fernandez, 31, and Gabriel M. Burgos, 31, were each charged with 20 counts of Theft, 19 counts of Criminal Mischief, 19 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Theft and 19 counts of Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Mischief, according to Middlesex Borough Police Chief Matthew P. Geist. The charges stem from a rash of catalytic converter thefts totaling $33,545 which occurred in Middlesex Borough between December of 2022 and February of this …

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by Jon Craig
News
Catalytic Converter Thieves Drawing Intense Attention Of Police In Teaneck Catalytic Converter Thieves Drawing Intense Attention Of Police In Teaneck
Catalytic Converter Thieves Drawing Intense Attention Of Police In Teaneck It began with an overnight call to police from a Teaneck resident who heard an electric saw being used just outside the family's home. In no time, catalytic converter thieves had hit at least a dozen vehicles in the area, Police Chief Andrew R. McGurr said. Such thieves have been cutting out converters and selling them for scrap for years. It's recently become something of an epidemic, though -- one that is made all the more visible by the explosion of home security video. The highly-prized emissions-control devices help remove nitrogen oxide and other potentially toxic pollutants from a …

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by Jerry DeMarco
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21 Catalytic Converters Recovered, Gang Of Four Busted By Clifton PD 21 Catalytic Converters Recovered, Gang Of Four Busted By Clifton PD
21 Catalytic Converters Recovered, Gang Of Four Busted By Clifton PD GOTCHA! Clifton police recovered 21 catalytic converters while arresting four men who they said stole them. Officers responding to a theft in progress on East 4th Street stopped a fleeing Kia in Paterson and arrested the lone occupant, Pedro Mirben-Feliz, 26, of Brooklyn around 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, Detective Lt. Robert Bracken said. A second vehicle, an Acura TL, crashed on Route 3 in Secaucus, where police arrested three occupants -- driver Juan Ortegalazala, 29, of the Bronx and passengers Yheremy Santana, 22, and Angel Batista, 18, both of Jersey City,  the lieutenant said. Betw…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
$1M In Cash, $2M In Luxury Cars, 200 Catalytic Converter Pallets Seized In Federal NJ Bust $1M In Cash, $2M In Luxury Cars, 200 Catalytic Converter Pallets Seized In Federal NJ Bust
$1M In Cash, $2M In Luxury Cars, 200 Catalytic Converter Pallets Seized In Federal NJ Bust A Homeland Security investigation netted eight area arrests, including six in Newark, as part of a nationwide takedown of a large catalytic converter and stolen car ring. HSI and FBI agents seized more than 200 pallets of catalytic converters, $2 million in exotic cars, $1 million in cash and 29 ounces of gold bars, jewelry and high-value handbags as part of the operation.  "This criminal enterprise involved multiple suspects across the country," said Special Agent In Charge Ricky J. Patel of HSI Newark.  A total of 21 suspects were arrested in eight states.

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by Jon Craig
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$550M Sought From New Jersey Thieves In Federal Catalytic Converter Crackdown $550M Sought From New Jersey Thieves In Federal Catalytic Converter Crackdown
$550M Sought From New Jersey Thieves In Federal Catalytic Converter Crackdown Catalytic converter thieves across the US could soon have to cough up $550 million as part of a federal, state and local crackdown on the thefts and resales that turned a massive profit, authorities announced. The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday, Nov. 2 that it will be seeking forfeiture from those responsible for the trend of vehicle parts being stolen and resold for massive profits. In total, 21 people in five states have been charged following busts, searches, and seizures in the following states, according to the DOJ: California; Oklahoma; Wyoming; Minnesota; New Jersey;…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Suspected Catalytic Converter Thieves Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police Suspected Catalytic Converter Thieves Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police
Suspected Catalytic Converter Thieves Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police A pair of men from Minnesota were arrested in connection with catalytic converter thefts, authorities said. On Wednesday, Oct. 26, at approximately 10:55 p.m., multiple police units were dispatched to Dugan Lane for a reported suspicious vehicle and theft in progress, Toms River police said. The caller said that the catalytic converter to his SUV had just been cut and that the suspects' vehicle, a large white box truck with a loading ramp on the tailgate, was last seen heading toward Lakewood. Numerous patrol units in the area quickly located the box truck and conducted a mo…

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by Jon Craig
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GONE IN 60 SECONDS: Catalytic Converter Thieves Caught On Video GONE IN 60 SECONDS: Catalytic Converter Thieves Caught On Video
Gone IN 60 Seconds: Catalytic Converter Thieves Caught On Video WATCH: Two thieves needed barely a minute to swipe a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked in a Bergen County resident's driveway, home security video shows. It begins when an Infiniti sedan pulls up to a home on East Passaic Street in Rochelle Park. Two passengers emerge wearing ski masks, hoodies and gloves. One of them has on a Reebok top and striped pants. The other carries what looks like a reciprocating saw with a light on the end. As his companion keeps a lookout, the tool wielder climbs under the front of the parked SUV, then reaches beneath the side. He emerges with the part…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Thief Drags Jersey Shore Officer With Car During Struggle: Police Thief Drags Jersey Shore Officer With Car During Struggle: Police
Thief Drags Jersey Shore Officer With Car During Struggle: Police A Jersey Shore police officer was dragged by a catalytic converter thief during a struggle last week, authorities said. The Keyport officer responded to reports of a man trying to steal a catalytic converter off a vehicle near Main Street around 3:25 a.m. on Dec. 31 The man struggled with the officer and was able to get into what is believed to be a light gray or silver, older model, four-door sedan. During the struggle, the vehicle struck and dragged the officer as it was fleeing the scene. The officer was not seriously injured and was recovering.  Anyone with information please…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Jersey Shore Couple Charged In Catalytic Converter Thefts Worth $25K Jersey Shore Couple Charged In Catalytic Converter Thefts Worth $25K
Jersey Shore Couple Charged In Catalytic Converter Thefts Worth $25K A man and woman from Manchester have been arrested in connection with stealing catalytic converters from vehicles, authorities said. Joseph Cook, 35, and Anna Hardy, face various charges of theft and criminal mischief, according to police. These thefts, which occurred over the past three months throughout Manchester Township, as well as surrounding areas, resulted in an estimated collective financial loss to the victims in excess of $25,000, police said. Detectives began conducting surveillance, and on Saturday, they observed Cook and Hardy in Barnegat and Tabernacle townships. In both loc…

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by Jon Craig
News
Rockin' The 60s: Veteran Culprits Nabbed In NJ-Wide Thefts Of Work Vans, Trucks, State Says Rockin' The 60s: Veteran Culprits Nabbed In NJ-Wide Thefts Of Work Vans, Trucks, State Says
Rockin' The 60s: Veteran Culprits Nabbed In Nj-wide Thefts Of Work Vans, Trucks, State Says Two ex-cons in their 60s were part of a ring that stole more than 30 work vehicles from victims in seven North Jersey counties, authorities said. Their end came in a quick succession of arrests that followed an operation led by New Jersey State Police -- and involving dozens of local police departments -- that was dubbed “Operation Cat Burglar.” Crew members in January began snatching work vans and trucks from owners in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union, Hudson, Morris, and Middlesex counties, state Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said. They stored the stolen vehicles in a lot in North Berg…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
GONE IN 60 SECONDS: Critical Car Part Swiped At Alarming Rate In US, Fairview PD Nabs Duo GONE IN 60 SECONDS: Critical Car Part Swiped At Alarming Rate In US, Fairview PD Nabs Duo
Gone IN 60 Seconds: Critical Car Part Swiped At Alarming Rate In US, Fairview PD Nabs Duo Fairview detectives caught two thieves stealing catalytic converters amid what's become an explosion of thefts of the previous devices nationwide, authorities said. Law enforcement agencies everywhere are dealing with stealthy crews swiping the highly-prized emissions-control devices from the underbellies of vehicles parked in private driveways on otherwise quiet streets. “It’s a quick type of theft. They slide under a vehicle, go snip-snip and they’re gone,” Police Chief Martin Kahn said Monday. “They don’t have to steal the whole car.” Installed in almost all gasoline cars and trucks so…

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by Jerry DeMarco