String Of Catalytic Converter Thefts In County Ends With Arrest

CROWNSVILLE, MD — A Crownsville man has been charged with multiple theft counts for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of catalytic converters from vehicles in the Severna Park and Millersville areas, authorities say.

John Mark Barnes, 32, of the 1900 block of Pump Handle Court in Crownsville, is charged with: Theft under $1,000; theft over $10,000; malicious destruction of property under $1,000; and malicious destruction of property over $10,000, according to Anne Arundel County Police.

Thieves target the equipment because it contains valuable metal, including platinum. The cost to install a catalytic converter is typically about $1,000, but can easily reach $3,000 or more for some makes and models of vehicles.

Between January and March 2017, Eastern District and Southern District Patrols responded to several catalytic converter thefts reported in Severna Park and Millersville. Detectives linked at least nine catalytic converter thefts to Barnes. Warrants were obtained for the suspect, and with the assistance of the Fugitive Apprehension Team and the Southern District Tactical Patrol Unit, detectives located and arrested Barnes on April 7 on multiple active warrants.

Experts across the country say parked SUVs and pickup trucks are most vulnerable to such thefts because the exhaust system is easier for thieves to reach. Some suspects have targeted sports stadium parking lots, jack up one side of a vehicle, cut out the converter, and are gone within minutes.

»Photo of theft suspect John Barnes, courtesy of Anne Arundel County Police