Middletown Township police are working with regional law enforcement officials on a catalytic converter theft investigation.
The investigation began last Friday around 1:26 a.m. after Officer Mark Leonhauser stopped a silver 2019 Dodge Charger rental vehicle displaying a Florida plate on Route 1 near Langhorne. The car was caught driving at 88 mph in a 55 mph zone, police said.
Credit: Middletown police
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As the officer was talking to the four men in the vehicle, who were from Camden, there were “conflicting stories,” police said.
It was determined the vehicle was rented on December 31, 2021 and the person on the lease was not present, police said.
“One male was determined to be wanted by the Bucks County Sheriffs Office was detained and turned over to deputies,” Detective Lt. Steve Forman said.
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One of the people in the car was arrested in New Jersey in August 2021 for stealing 15 catalytic converters, police said.
Suspected marijuana was spotted in plain view inside of the vehicle, police said.
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Forman said drug charges are expected and there could be further charges for receiving stolen property. Other agencies are eying charges related to the thefts.
The Charger was impounded and a court-approved search revealed 14 catalytic converters in the trunk. There were also three battery-power sawzalls and a supply of blades for the tool. Four black ski masks were located, police said.
Authorities said two of the catalytic converters appeared to been removed from new vehicles.
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Middletown Township detectives have been working with other police agencies in the region to determine if any of the catalytic converters were stolen between December 31, 2021 and the end of last week, authorities said.
The area has been besieged by catalytic converter thefts since 2020.
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While there have been several arrests of suspects, thefts have remained a constant across the Levittown area and beyond.
Catalytic converters are easy to steal if you have the know-how and tools. Once stolen, the exhaust emission control devices are harvested of the small amount of the precious metals like platinum, palladium, or rhodium they contain.
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“These crimes take only minutes to occur,” Forman said.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that thieves can fetch anywhere from $20 to $240 for selling the precious metals found in catalytic converters. Local police have said crooks can even fetch more money for the items amid national supply chain issues.
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“The substantial increase in the value of precious metals contained inside of the catalytic converters has driven this crime trend. The thieves sell the stolen catalytic converters to wholesale buyers who extract the precious metals then resell the precious metals,” Forman said.
The Middletown Township investigation is “active and ongoing,” police said.
Anyone with tips on the thefts can contact Detective Wayne George at 215-750-3865 or wgeorge@mtpd.org.
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