Good News/Bad News: Catalytic Converters

There was an article in The Kingsport Times-News today that might be interesting to everyone. If you would like to read it go to:

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=900747

Where do I look for the article, after getting to the front page? I looked up both sides and read all the headlines for the info....

Published 06/30/2008 By Timesnews.net Staff



Bluff City Police say one suspect is in custody and another still on the lam after 32 catalytic converters were stolen in their jurisdiction last week, including 13 from the city garage.

Travis W. Jackson, 27, Bristol, Va., has been charged with criminal trespassing and 31 counts of theft from a motor vehicle, according to a BCPD press release.

Police Chief Doug Nelson said police learned two individuals who had just sold some catalytic converters were headed toward Bluff City from Elizabethton on Highway 19E.

Officer Joe Holsclaw spotted the suspect vehicle and followed it onto a gravel driveway where one of the occupants fled on foot.

Inside the vehicle, police found a bag of tools believed to be used to cut catalytic converters from vehicles.

Police say they will wait until the second arrest has been made before identifying the second suspect believed to have been traveling with Jackson.

Nelson said in the release that the investigation is ongoing and may lead to charges in other jurisdictions.

Seems like a big time felony for stealing something valued over $300.00 per each item....Sounds like some big time jail time to me and they whole heartedly deserve every minute of the time.........It's ashame that the converters can't be confiscated and given back to the people who had them stolen...Might be kinda hard to do unless there is some sort of identification numbers on the converters...

The Converter MFG's might want to consider putting serial numbers on the new ones they make these days. Then have the auto sale industry annotate the Converter's serial number to the ownership paper work for the vehicle for the purchaser of the vehicle.

Hang em high

[QUOTE=CMIDD;331955]Hang em high[/QUOTE]

And kick'em while they swing!!!!!!!!!!

[QUOTE=bassin_bug;331911]There was an article in The Kingsport Times-News today that might be interesting to everyone. If you would like to read it go to:

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=900747[/QUOTE]

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Stratos Joe gave the report from a Bluff City incident. I'm sorry I failed to give directions to the one above which happened in Kingsport.

After you go to that website, at the top of the page you will see a "drop down" called OUR NEWS. Click on it and the drop down will show LOCAL NEWS, click on it and go to the right side of that page. Scroll down a few inches and you will see "LOCAL NEWS FROM THE PAST 7 DAYS". Look down that list and click on "Catalytic converter thieves target trucks at Toyota of Kingsport."

Good news! The real culprits however are whoever is buying them the stolen converters. Somebody's making some good money on these things, and it's prolly not the scumbags doing the stealing. I'd seriously consider offering this clown some leniency in exchange for info to use in nailing the buyer(s) for trafficing in stolen goods.

Dry up the demand and the supply'll take care of itself.

Yep, put them out of business and air it on the local stations. Sad part is if someone beats the living snot out of one of these losers there would be a lawsuit pending because you have violated his right to steal from you and his future income from stealing.

Like I said before, arrest the buyers, and the problem will be more than half taken care of.Since its a federal mandate that cars have to have them, then it should be a federal offense to illegally buy them. But uncle sugar has more important stuff on his plate now, what it is who knows. As far as harming the thiefs, if the guy is a career criminal, and you injure him, and he can't persue his chosen profesion, there is a good chance he will be eligible for first, workmans comp, and then ssi benefits. Plus you stand the chance of being arrested for battery, and then sued. and since battery is a felony, you may wind up in jail, sitting on some brutes lap. Its a wonderfull world trala tra la!

[QUOTE=Devils Horse;331972]Good news! The real culprits however are whoever is buying them the stolen converters. Somebody's making some good money on these things, and it's prolly not the scumbags doing the stealing. I'd seriously consider offering this clown some leniency in exchange for info to use in nailing the buyer(s) for trafficing in stolen goods.

Dry up the demand and the supply'll take care of itself.[/QUOTE]

I agree. The fact that there are people out there buying these things, knowing that they are most likely stolen is the bigger issue.

Andrew