Catalytic Converter Thief Caught In Act: Alameda Police

ALAMEDA, CA — An Oakland man was arrested in Alameda over the weekend for attempting to steal a catalytic converter, according to Alameda Police.

Police did not release the 49-year-old man's name. He was arrested after a brief foot pursuit in the 1800 block of Walnut Street.

Alameda Police report that a patrol officer spotted a vehicle without license plates and its trunk open stopped alongside a row of parked cars in the 1800 block of Elm Street. The officer then noticed a partially sawed-off catalytic converter. The man later arrested emerged from underneath the car and ran off. The officer caught up with him on Walnut Street.

According to police, "The more rhodium, palladium, and platinum your catalytic converter contains, the more valuable it is. Look into installing anti-theft devices, including alarms designed to be activated when a car is tilted or raised. Motion-sensing dash cameras can notify you of a theft and may help capture suspect or vehicle descriptions."

If you see a crime in progress, call 911.

If you are the victim of a theft but there is no crime in progress, call the police department's non-emergency line at 510-337-8340.