Berkeley Arrest In Catalytic Converter Theft Shooting

BERKELEY, CA — Berkeley police credit surveillance camera footage with helping them catch up with a man suspected a month ago of firing a shot at a witness who interrupted his theft of a catalytic converter.

In a news release shared Wednesday by the Berkeley Police Department, police said they arrested a 28-year-old man in Oakland on Oct. 27 on suspicion of multiple offenses — two counts of grand theft, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, along with several criminal enhancements. Police did not identify the man arrested.

Police said the charges stem from an Oct. 6 case in the 500 block of Spruce Street in Berkeley, where two suspects stole a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked there and another one about 10 minutes later from a vehicle parked in the 2300 block of Oak Street.

During the second theft, a witness interrupted the suspects and one of them fired a shot at the witness.

Investigators used video from nearby surveillance cameras to identify the vehicle used by the suspects and discovered it had been reported stolen.

On Oct. 27, detectives tracked the vehicle to a motel in Oakland and arrested the suspect.

Police said they found in his backpack a loaded handgun with no serial number (also known as a ghost gun), methamphetamine and the keys to the stolen vehicle. In the motel room, police said they found ammunition, vehicle jacks and a reciprocating saw.

In the announcement, police said the case is a good example of how quality security footage can be used to aid in criminal investigations. They encourage the public to consider adding a good camera system for their home or neighborhood and invite people to add their system to the department's registry.

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