United front on Eastside to fight catalytic converter thefts

There is a new fight against crimes like this — a frightening confrontation as a suspected catalytic converter thief pulls a gun on a car owner trying to stop him.

It’s a crime that has surged in recent months.

Now, these thefts are bringing together police departments from Mercer Island to Bothell, a united front on the Eastside to stop these crooks in their tracks.

This comes as the state legislature is considering bills that would go after scrap dealers who accept the precious metals.

These thefts have been happening several times a day. In fact, it happened here at Bellevue’s Green House Plumbing and Heating on Sunday.

On Sunday, the thief got away with two catalytic converters stolen from underneath this truck.

Omid Hossieni shows where a thief cut the two catalytic converters from underneath this truck, part of his fleet of trucks at Green House Plumbing and Heating.

Hossieni, who owns the company with his wife, says replacing the converters is pricey.

“Last night, I ordered it,” Hossieni said. “It’s $1,200 plus tax.”

And the price to install them? It could cost “$1,500 to weld it,” said Hossieni.

Surveillance video Sunday night shows the thief’s car. This is the fifth catalytic converter stolen here in just six months.

“It looks like it’s just the one guy,” said Marina Gayevskaya, the company’s co-owner. “And we are not sure yet if he has a vehicle.”

“In some of the most recent investigations,” said Kirkland Police Chief Cherie Harris. “We know that these thieves are roaming all over the Eastside.”

Police agencies across the Eastside have joined forces to create a catalytic converter task force in an effort to stop the thefts.

“This is a complicated and difficult problem to tackle,” said Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley. “And we need the public to partner with us to fight this issue.”

Chief Shirley says the public can do that by parking in a garage or in well-lit areas.

And being alert to this sound of someone sawing through a catalytic converter. If you hear that sound, they say, don’t try to stop the thief but call 911.

“Clearly, they can make quick work of taking catalytic converters off,” said Bothell Police Chief Ken Seuberlich. “But be a great witness. If you can identify the vehicle that is in the driveway through a window, stay on the phone with dispatch when you call 911. Be a really good witness.”

Police also suggest you get a metal shield to make it harder for the thief to get to your catalytic converter.

Bellevue police say they will soon follow the lead of other communities, by offering to paint and etch your converter so police can identify it if it is stolen.

But Bellevue police want to stop these thefts and catch the thieves.

They say the formation of the task force has already led to 11 arrests.

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