Deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested four individuals after they reportedly attempted to steal a catalytic converter in Newhall Friday night.
The arrests occurred late Friday night on Atwood Boulevard in Newhall, after it was reported that a catalytic converter had just been taken off the victim’s vehicle.
“Catalytic converters can easily be ‘scrapped’ for quick profit,” wrote Deputy Natalie Arriaga, spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff station, in a previous KHTS story.
With additional help of Santa Clarita Sheriff Station Reserves, the suspects’ vehicle was located in Stevenson Ranch.
“During a search of the vehicle, a freshly cut catalytic converter was recovered, as well as tools commonly used to saw off converters, and narcotics and drug paraphernalia,” Arriaga wrote in an official post Monday.
The four individuals, from the greater Los Angeles area, were arrested on various charges, with one additionally charged for active outstanding warrants, according to Arriaga.
See Related: Deputies Continue To Report Catalytic Converter Thefts In Santa Clarita
Catalytic converters are part of a car’s exhaust system, and are shaped like a round canister that connects exhaust piping from the engine to the tailpipe. The converter works to help the vehicle transform harmful exhaust gasses into safer substances like carbon dioxide and water vapour.
They are especially valuable due to the precious metals they contain, including platinum, rhodium and palladium, which officials say have increased in value in recent years due to black market resales.
Officials say that it may be difficult to tell if a catalytic converter is missing, as it is not easily visible from underneath the car. Most people only notice once their car is running poorly and begins making a loud, rumbling exhaust noise.
However, there are some steps Santa Clarita residents can take to prevent catalytic converter theft, which include parking their vehicles in well-lit areas with surveillance cameras, and having bolts on the converter welded shut.
Officials also recommend that residents engrave their license plate number onto the converter itself to assist law enforcement in the event that it is stolen and recovered.
Deputies ask residents to be aware and report any “suspicious activity,” such as individuals loitering around or looking under parked cars, to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121.
Photo Courtesy of Austin Dave
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