Suspects In 26 Bergen County Catalytic Converter Thefts Now Linked To 3 Livingston Crimes

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Two men who were linked to 26 catalytic converter thefts in one Bergen County town in just one month have now been tied to three such thefts in Livingston, the police in that town said Tuesday.

Back in March, Livingston police responded to three different thefts of catalytic converters from Honda Accords parked in front of residences.

On March 26, a converter was cut from a 2006 Accord on Spring Road. On March 28, a Gorham Avenue victim found out the car part was missing from their 2001 Accord. And the next day, the part was found to be missing from a 2002 Accord on Millstone Drive.

Experts say that converter theft from an Accord is easier than from some vehicles.

The Livingston police said on Tuesday, July 11 that Omar Fernandez, 31, and Gabriel Burgos, 30, both of the Bronx, were arrested for the three thefts, following an investigation by Det. Spano.

Both men were charged with three counts of theft, three counts of criminal damage, three counts of possession of burglary tools and one count of conspiracy.

Both were already in the Bergen County jail, police said.

In fact, both were already charged with prior catalytic converter thefts in Teaneck. READ MORE: 26 Catalytic Converters Taken By 2 Men In One Bergen County Town: Cops

Fernandez was also arrested for a similar offense in Hamilton, in Mercer County, last month.

Cracking Down On The Trend

Teaneck Police Chief Andrew McGurr announced charges against the duo last month.

"Omar Fernandez and Gabriel Burgos have been charged with numerous counts of theft, criminal mischief, and possession of burglary tools. Omar Fernandez was arrested and transferred to the Bergen County Jail," said McGurr last month.

Experts say that the price of the metals in the converters has been rising, including platinum, palladium, and rhodium. Recycling facilities will pay for the converters.

Thieves can cut them out of the bottom of vehicles in a matter of minutes, particularly larger vehicles that are easy to crawl under, even including school buses, experts say.

In May 2022, four men were charged by the Justice Department in a scheme to steal the car part from vehicles in New Jersey, bringing them back to New York across the George Washington Bridge. Officials said the men had stolen 15 catalytic converters already that year.

Sen. Bob Menendez, along with local and state law enforcement officials, announced legislation he is introducing in the U.S. Senate to form a federal task force to address the issue.

Menendez said, "We know that thieves operate across state lines – coming here to Bergen County and then driving across the bridge or through the tunnel to sell catalytic converters in New York and other states."

Last month, new legislation (S249) was enacted in New Jersey changing certain regulations for the sale and purchase of catalytic converters.

It includes allowing scrap metal businesses to only buy used catalytic converters from a registered business, and requiring added verification of ownership when selling used catalytic converters to scrap metal businesses.

The New Jersey law requires the business to document the vehicle identification number, the certificate of title or registration, a receipt from a repair transaction, or a bill of sale when purchasing a used catalytic converter or face fine for violation.

READ MORE: 7 Catalytic Converters Stolen From Livingston In One Night