BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Louisiana man who was arrested earlier this month after authorities found about 100 stolen catalytic converters in his home has been rebooked on more charges.
The man received additional theft and drug possession charges Monday, according to online East Baton Rouge Parish jail records. WBRZ-TV reported that newly released arrest documents show he had a network of people stealing parts from parked cars in the Baton Rouge area throughout 2021.
He was first implicated in October after one of his suspected associates was pulled over, the report says. Police later found a battery-powered saw used to steal catalytic converters and about three dozen new saw blades in the vehicle.
The accused ringleader pulled up during the traffic stop and said the truck his friend was driving belonged to him. He admitted during questioning that he regularly bought catalytic converters from the other man but said the parts were acquired legally.
Catalytic converters are made from precious metals that have risen in value in recent years, including platinum, rhodium and palladium. There has been a dramatic rise in thefts across the country since the parts have a high resale value.
Three people arrested in recent months confessed their involvement in the crime operation, saying they stole catalytic converters for the man — who allegedly supplied them with tools to carry out the thefts. The suspects said the man would bring the parts to a warehouse about once a week.
Along with 101 stolen catalytic converters, officers also found various drugs and an unloaded shotgun when they searched his house Feb. 3.
Pastor David Griffin told WBRZ that catalytic converters were stolen from vans at Bible World Christian Center during a heist authorities say the man arranged. Griffin said it cost the church more than $4,000 to get the vehicles fixed and one is still missing its catalytic converter.
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