Hawthorne police arrest suspected catalytic converter thief
A Los Angeles man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing two catalytic converters from Toyota vehicles in Hawthorne, police said Tuesday.
Christopher Williams, 36, was arrested Saturday shortly after the two thefts were reported, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said.
In the first of the crimes, a resident in the 4500 block of West 118th Street called police at 5 a.m. to say someone was tampering with her Toyota sport utility vehicle, Tomatani said.
Police inspected the SUV and discovered the catalytic converter had been stolen.
Shortly after 6 a.m., someone called police to the 4400 block of 135th Street after seeing a man tampering with a Toyota pickup truck.
Christopher Williams, 36, was arrested Saturday shortly after the two thefts were reported, Hawthorne police Lt. Gary Tomatani said.
In the first of the crimes, a resident in the 4500 block of West 118th Street called police at 5 a.m. to say someone was tampering with her Toyota sport utility vehicle, Tomatani said.
Police inspected the SUV and discovered the catalytic converter had been stolen.
Shortly after 6 a.m., someone called police to the 4400 block of 135th Street after seeing a man tampering with a Toyota pickup truck.
Police determined the catalytic converter had been removed.
The witness said the man drove away in a black or green Honda SUV with a spare tire on the rear.
Hawthorne police officers checked the area and found a green Honda that matched the description. They pulled over the driver, Williams, and found a catalytic converter on the front passenger side floorboard, Tomatani said
A second catalytic converter also was found in the vehicle.
Williams was arrested on suspicion of grand theft. He had a prior conviction for stealing catalytic converters in Orange County, police said.
The witness said the man drove away in a black or green Honda SUV with a spare tire on the rear.
Hawthorne police officers checked the area and found a green Honda that matched the description. They pulled over the driver, Williams, and found a catalytic converter on the front passenger side floorboard, Tomatani said
A second catalytic converter also was found in the vehicle.
Williams was arrested on suspicion of grand theft. He had a prior conviction for stealing catalytic converters in Orange County, police said.
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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