Sonoma County deputies arrest 4 catalytic converter theft suspects

Sonoma County regulation enforcement agencies this week arrested 4 suspected catalytic converter thieves and recovered 12 of the devices that manage exhaust emissions from automobiles.

The arrests came amid a spike in catalytic converter thefts in the county. More than 100 have been documented stolen in new weeks — usually from Prius products.

On Tuesday, Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies arrested Stockton inhabitants Soeub Seang, 37, and Boun Chansombath, 38, following a monthlong investigation, in accordance to the Sheriff’s business.

Deputies stopped Seang whilst he was driving in close proximity to Freeway 37 and Noble Highway. Chansombath was a passenger and experienced a warrant for his arrest, enabling deputies to search the auto, the Sheriff’s Business explained. They found five catalytic converters in the trunk, as well as an electrical saw, influence driver, hand drill and pipe cutters.

Both of those were billed with crimes similar to thefts and booked into Sonoma County Jail. Seang was later on produced with a quotation. Chansombath remained in custody Friday with out bail.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Sgt. Juan Valencia stated the pair from the Central Valley are suspected to have stolen a “large amount” of converters in the county, introducing “it’s prevalent for (burglars) from other jurisdictions to appear into an additional county exactly where they are not known.”

On Wednesday, Windsor deputies arrested Gerardo Ramirez-Vega, 32, of Richmond, on suspicion of possessing and thieving four catalytic converters. Deputies stopped his seemingly stolen truck even though responding to a theft alarm activation at the Select-n-Pull automobile sections shop on Outdated Redwood Freeway. In the mattress of the truck, they found 4 catalytic converters.

Ramirez-Vega was charged and booked into Sonoma County Jail, the place he was issued a quotation and produced.

Also on Wednesday, Petaluma law enforcement arrested Miguel Lopez-Reynoso, 35, of Rodeo in Contra Costa County, following a report of a potential catalytic converter theft on the 200 block of Keller Street.

Law enforcement claimed there have been 3 catalytic converters in simple sight in Lopez-Reynoso’s motor vehicle. In a look for of the motor vehicle, an officer also located a vehicle jack and a reciprocating saw.

Lopez-Reynoso was charged with grand theft and booked into Sonoma County Jail.

Valencia explained county law enforcement agencies on a regular basis share data about thefts like these with 1 a further to discover and arrest likely suspects.

“We’re continuously analyzing and monitoring down proof, and we want people to contact if they see a thing suspicious through the working day or at night time,” he reported.

You can arrive at Staff Author Ethan Varian at [email protected] or 707-521-5412. On Twitter @ethanvarian