Oakland woman connected to catalytic converter thefts, shootings, stolen vehicles; thefts decline 14% after her arrest
Last month, Alameda Police officers arrested a 22-year-old Oakland woman after linking her to multiple catalytic converter thefts, including incidents where a firearm was discharged when confronted by community members.
The investigation began earlier this year following an uptick in brazen catalytic converter thefts in the area, according to an APD report posted June 26 on Facebook. The probe connected the woman to at least 21 catalytic converter thefts, multiple stolen vehicles, and four shootings between January and May in Alameda and in neighboring jurisdictions.
KRON reporting on the arrest.
Weeks ago, the Alameda Police Department sought charges from the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for 21 cases related to catalytic converter and vehicle thefts and two shootings that occurred in Alameda. The DA’s Office filed a total of 28 felony charges. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives comb through evidence in other vehicle and catalytic converter thefts.
Internal APD statistics shared with the Alameda Post showed that since the woman was arrested, catalytic converter thefts and car thefts in Alameda decreased 14%, compared to the same period four weeks earlier. They show that almost all the targets of catalytic converter thefts in the city are Toyota Priuses, and the majority of car thefts involve Hyundais and Kias.
“We want to extend our sincere thanks to our patrol officers, detectives, Community Resource Unit, and crime scene technicians, who have been meticulously investigating these incidents since they were first reported,” the APD post stated. “Their dedication to following up on leads, processing evidence, working with outside agencies, and executing search warrants, led to these charges being filed today.”
The post stated that APD takes these incidents seriously and is continuing to work on additional outstanding cases.
