2 Convicted In Catalytic Converter Thefts From Napa County

YOLO COUNTY, CA — Two Sacramento men were convicted Dec. 1 of conspiracy to commit a felony and grand theft for stealing catalytic converters in eight Northern California counties, including Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Napa, Butte, Alameda and Contra Costa.

Dao Xiong, 44, and Shaneel Lal, 38, are expected to be sentenced to six years in prison in a plea agreement, the Yolo County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Xiong and Lal were identified as the suspects in an investigation that began in September 2020 when a Davis resident reported his catalytic converter was stolen from his Toyota Prius.

A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle’s exhaust system that often contains precious metals such as platinum, gold, rhodium, and palladium that have high value in the metal recycling market and make them an item of choice among thieves and crime rings. Replacement costs for catalytic converters range from $1,000 to $3,000 and often it can take weeks or months for an automotive

Detectives with the Davis Police Department’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit launched an investigation and were able to obtain a surveillance video from a nearby car that helped identify the suspect’s vehicle. Through surveillance and the assistance of the Folsom Police Department, detectives identified Xiong and Lal.

Detectives monitored their activities as they traveled to multiple counties, with Xiong as the driver and Lal as the passenger, prosecutors said. The duo scouted neighborhoods during the daytime and early evening hours, then returned to the neighborhoods later that night or early the next morning.

"Official theft reports were made to local law enforcement agencies and the surveillance data matched the location and timeframe for catalytic converter thefts," the DA's office said.

When stopped by Davis police officers Oct. 23, 2020, Xiong and Lal were found with catalytic converters, prosecutors said.

Based on the surveillance data and theft reports, the catalytic converters were believed to have been stolen out of Napa County.

Charges were filed against Xiong and Lal; however, due to the judicial “zero bail” policy at the time, Xiong and Lal were released from custody.

While out of custody, the pair continued to steal catalytic converters until they were arrested again by Davis police detectives on Feb. 2, 2021, at the Thunder Valley Casino in Placer County.

Between Sept. 17, 2020, and Feb. 2, 2021, Xiong and Lal were believed to have stolen 64 catalytic converters from eight counties. The total loss amount is still being determined; however, it is expected to be approximately $100,000, the DA's Office said.

"Catalytic converter theft is not victimless and is not just another ‘property crime.’ It impacts the livelihood and financial stability of many individuals," Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said. "People are unable to drive their cars, get to work, or pick up their kids because of these thieves. These crimes will not be tolerated and this plea sends a message that law enforcement takes these thefts seriously."

Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Matt DeMoura, who prosecuted this case for Yolo and seven other counties said: "This prosecution would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the Davis Police Department’s Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit and the Folsom Police Department."