2 arrested in catalytic converter thefts; Victims needed
Police arrested two men Tuesday in El Segundo with stolen catalytic converters in the back of their van, but the victims of the thefts remain unknown.
Juan Hernandez, 34, left, and Ricardo Jimenez, 49, allegedly stole 
the devices from vehicles somewhere between 69th Street and Central Avenue in Los Angeles and El Segundo, police said.
The men told police they were headed to sell the catalytic converters in Long Beach, but stopped in El Segundo to steal more, El Segundo police Lt. Raymond Garcia said.
Officers, however, spotted them driving through the residential area of El Segundo at 1:50 a.m. and followed them.
Once they were stopped, officers found the catalytic converters in their white 1993 GMC Safari van, along with numerous 14mm sockets and wrenches commonly used to unbolt the devices from vehicles.
Hernandez provided officers with a false name, but was later determined to be a wanted parole violator, Garcia said.
Detectives are now trying to identify the theft victims, who live outside of El Segundo.
Thieves have targeted catalytic converters for years, primarily from Toyota sport utility vehicles, because they can sell the precious metals inside them.
Police asked anyone with information about the thefts to call Detective Luke Muir at 310-524-2263.
Juan Hernandez, 34, left, and Ricardo Jimenez, 49, allegedly stole 
the devices from vehicles somewhere between 69th Street and Central Avenue in Los Angeles and El Segundo, police said.The men told police they were headed to sell the catalytic converters in Long Beach, but stopped in El Segundo to steal more, El Segundo police Lt. Raymond Garcia said.
Officers, however, spotted them driving through the residential area of El Segundo at 1:50 a.m. and followed them.
Once they were stopped, officers found the catalytic converters in their white 1993 GMC Safari van, along with numerous 14mm sockets and wrenches commonly used to unbolt the devices from vehicles.
Hernandez provided officers with a false name, but was later determined to be a wanted parole violator, Garcia said.
Detectives are now trying to identify the theft victims, who live outside of El Segundo.
Thieves have targeted catalytic converters for years, primarily from Toyota sport utility vehicles, because they can sell the precious metals inside them.
Police asked anyone with information about the thefts to call Detective Luke Muir at 310-524-2263.
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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