“Catalytic converter thieves wreak havoc in our communities, so this is a very welcomed operation. By calling upon the resources available to them, including the California Bureau of Automotive Repair, San Jose police officers and detectives likely made a big dent in this crime that impacts all of us.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.

SAN JOSE – On December 13, 2021, the San Jose Police Department announced the results of a six- month operation it called Operation Cat Scratch Thiever, which targeted catalytic converter thefts in the city of San Jose. The investigation was the result of an increase in catalytic converter thefts in 2020 and 2021. The operation targeted prolific catalytic converter thieves and the illegal underground market that has fueled the crime trend. Fifteen suspects were identified and arrested. Multiple search warrants were served during the course of the investigation. Detectives recovered:

• illegal weapons,
• more than $50,000 in cash,
• and more than 1,000 catalytic converters that are believed to have been stolen from vehicles throughout the Bay Area.

In addition, police shut down three San José businesses that were suspected of knowingly purchasing stolen catalytic converters from street criminals.

Catalytic converters contain precious metals that can be extracted and sold and are therefore targeted by thieves. A typical theft involves lifting a parked car with a jack and cutting out the converter with a cordless saw. The theft takes minutes but causes thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to victim vehicles. Stolen catalytic converters are often sold on the black market to illegal fencing operations for hundreds of dollars.

The following were arrested:

#	SUSPECT	ADDRESS	AGE
1.)	Joe Chen	San José Resident	81 Years
2.)	William Collier	San José Resident	54 Years
3.)	Noe Antonio De La O Ramirez	San José Resident	39 Years
4.)	Robert Frank	San José Resident	52 Years
5.)	David Leaf	San José Resident	29 Years
6.)	Robert Lee	San José Resident	29 Years
7.)	Jorge Omar Flores-Meza	San José Resident	25 Years
8.)	Noah Muchera	San José Resident	58 Years
9.)	Waiyaki Muchera	San José Resident	22 Years
10.)	Casandra Ochoa	San José Resident	37 Years
11.)	Mario Zarate Sanchez	San José Resident	49 Years
12.)	Godofredo Lopez Serrano	San José Resident	47 Years
13.)	Jeffrey Smith	San José Resident	36 Years
14.)	Alton Walker	San José Resident	49 Years
15.)	Lacey Westgate	San José Resident	36 Years

 

According to the San Jose Police Department, since the start of the pandemic, the City of San Jose has experienced an increase in catalytic converter thefts. The thefts have become increasingly brazen and suspects are often armed with guns. Suspects have shot victims and witnesses who have interrupted the thefts and in San Jose a catalytic converter theft has been linked to at least one homicide.

Suspects have been charged with crimes ranging from grand theft to receiving stolen property and from assault with a deadly weapon to possession of illegal weapons. Detectives also shut down three businesses that appeared to cater to thieves, often purchasing cut catalytic converters with no questions asked. Those businesses are being referred to the San José City Attorney’s Office.

SJPD acknowledged the invaluable assistance provided by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Automotive Repair, and Copart Inc.