4 Arrested In Petaluma Early-Morning Catalytic Converter Theft

Petaluma CA

22 February, 2021

2:42 PM

Description

PETALUMA, CA — Four people were arrested early Monday morning after police said the men stole the catalytic converter from a vehicle belonging to a Petaluma resident, police said. The four men were all charged with possession of stolen property after the incident, which took place at 1:15 a.m. in the 700 block of Mountain View Avenue, police said. Claudia Rivas, 28, Santa Rosa, Jose Garcia, 35, Jose Ramirez, 32, Richmond, and Juan Pineda, 42, Oakland, were all taken into custody, police said. The victim told police he heard a saw being used and believed his catalytic converter was being stolen. Police arrived in the area of the call and noticed a vehicle driving slowly through the neighborhood, police said. The victim had given police a description of the suspects and upon arrival, police stopped the vehicle and found four people in the vehicle. Police also found a floor jack and several other power tools that they said are commonly used in the theft of catalytic converters. During the search of the vehicle, two catalytic converters were found in the trunk of the vehicle. The victim arrived and determined that one of the catalytic converters matched the one that had been taken from his vehicle. All four men were arrested for the theft and charged with possession of stolen property. Police said that Rivas and Pineda were arrested for possession of suspected methamphetamine. Pineda also had an arrest warrant out of Marin County for possession of stolen property. The second catalytic converter found in the trunk is believed to have been recently stolen, police said, but it has not yet been matched to a victim's vehicle. It is believed to have been stolen off a Toyota Prius. That incident remains under investigation, police said. If residents have any information regarding this case or believe their vehicle's catalytic converter was recently stolen, they are asked to contact the Petaluma Police Department at (707) 778-4372.