Brooklyn Park Police Arrest Man with Tools for Removing Catalytic Converters
Police Pursuit Leads to Catalytic Converter Theft Suspect
Brooklyn Park police arrested a St. Paul man for possessing theft tools used to remove catalytic converters. The arrest followed a police chase early Sunday morning.
According to Brooklyn Park police:
Officers initially responded to a “suspicious vehicle” in the 6500 block of 66th Avenue North at 12:40 a.m. Sunday. When officers arrived, they heard metal fall to the pavement and witnessed the vehicle speed off.
Police tried to stop the vehicle that led to a short chase. Officers eventually used a PIT maneuver near Interstate 694 and Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center to get the vehicle to stop. Police arrested a suspect. They also recovered theft tools used for removing catalytic converters from the vehicle.
In addition, police recovered a gun in the area where police first spotted the suspicious vehicle.
Brooklyn Park Deputy Police Chief Mark Bruley said thefts of catalytic converters have reached “epidemic” proportions. The city is on pace to set a record for such crimes, taking in 100 catalytic converter theft cases so far this year.
Catalytic converters, located underneath the vehicle, reduce gas emissions. Thieves seek them out because they contain precious metals.
Charges are pending against the 29-year-old suspect.
A repair shop employee shows catalytic converter.
