Duo Busted Trying To Steal Catalytic Converter: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — Two suspects who tried to steal a catalytic converter from a car in Petaluma were caught thanks to an alert resident, a sergeant with the Petaluma Police Department said.

Officers responded around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday to Colombard Road where a resident reported they heard a saw being used near their home, Sgt. Ryan Suhrke said.

"Based on the sound, they believed a catalytic converter was being stolen and observed two subjects walking away from the area of the sound," Suhrke said. "He then observed the subjects leave the area in a vehicle."

Near Sonoma Mountain Parkway and Corona Road, an officer found and stopped a car that matched the one described by the resident. There were two people in the car and officers saw several tools in plain view, Suhrke said.

When officers checked the area where the sound was originally heard, they found a car with a catalytic converter that was recently cut but still attached, the sergeant said.

In a search of the suspects' car, officers found suspected methamphetamine and several tools used to remove catalytic converters, Suhrke said.

The community member who called police positively identified both people in the car as the pair responsible for the attempted theft, the sergeant said.

Luis Alexey Gonzalez-Hernandez, 22, of Santa Rosa, and Andres Chavez Garcia, 42, of Santa Rosa, were arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, attempted grand theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Jail records Tuesday morning showed Gonzalez-Hernandez remained behind bars without bail. Meanwhile, Garcia was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail. Both are scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning.

"The Petaluma Police Department would like to thank the alert community member who was vital to apprehending the suspects," Suhrke said. "If anyone witnessed or was a victim in the incident, please contact the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372."