Deputies from Los Angeles and Orange counties seized thousands of stolen catalytic converters and arrested five people in a joint bust on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Following a three-month investigation, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said the multi-agency team, including the LA County Sheriff’s Department, raided several locations tied to an alleged catalytic converter theft ring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Investigators served warrants at multiple locations in both counties and recovered roughly 2,400 stolen catalytic converters worth about $4.3 million. Deputies also found shipping boxes filled with precious metals, two unregistered firearms and more than $105,000 in cash.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Authorities arrested five people in LA County allegedly tied to the ring:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maywood resident Jorge Alberto Delgadillo, 35\u00a0 \u00a0LA resident Julio Moreno Reyes, 40LA resident Gilberto Valdovino, 27\u00a0LA resident Brayan Cruz De Leon, 20\u00a0Compton resident Hugo Saenz Marin, 24\u00a0<\/p>\n
They were all booked for grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.\u00a0<\/p>\n
OCSD said the LA County Fire\/Haz-Mat Investigations, California Department of Motor Vehicles Investigations, California Department of Insurance Investigations, and City of Irvine Code Enforcement helped with the investigation.<\/p>\n
Deputies urged residents to invest in anti-theft devices and to etch identifying information on their car parts, including their catalytic converters.\u00a0<\/p>\n