​Deputies in Walnut Arrest Two Men Amidst Steady Rise in Catalytic Converter Thefts

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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WALNUT – A Pomona man and West Covina man were arrested and stolen property was recovered as catalytic converter and trailer thefts continue to plague the San Gabriel Valley.

Pomona resident Alberto Huerta and West Covina man Moises Beltran were taken into custody. A subsequent search warrant in Riverside County yielded eight trailers, which had VINs removed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station in a March 9 announcement.

Detectives are attempting to locate each theft victim. Huerta and Beltran were booked on suspicion of grand theft.

Cities have seen an alarming and steady increase in catalytic converter thefts during the pandemic.

Thieves tend to target trucks and SUVs, because the taller vehicles make it easier to fit under them. Vehicles currently targeted are the Toyota Prius, Honda Accord and Toyota trucks, according to the Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station.

In December of 2020, Walnut Station detectives reported 37 catalytic converter thefts, the total averaged more than 1 theft per day, according to the Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station.

Fontana Police officers announced the January 16 arrest of Pomona man Freddy Baltazar. Evidence seized connected Baltazar to numerous catalytic converter thefts in the Diamond Bar, Walnut and Rowland Heights areas.

To help stem the tide of thefts, the Sheriff’s Walnut/Diamond Bar Station hosted a series of events for residents to etch serial numbers into their vehicle’s catalytic converters free of charge.

Deputies offered a few tips to help make it tougher for thieves to steal catalytic converters:
• When possible, park in well-lit areas and close to building entrances.
• Park your car inside the garage.
• Have the catalytic converter welded to your car's frame, which may make it harder to steal.
• Consider engraving your vehicle identification number (VIN) on the catalytic converter — this may help alert a scrap dealer that it was stolen and make it easier to identify the owner.
• Calibrate your car's alarm to set off when it detects vibration.
• Invest in a catalytic converter anti-theft device.