‘Like A NASCAR Pit Crew’: Authorities Bust Car Theft Ring That Stole Catalytic Converters In Less Than A Minute

A car theft gang that operated in Massachusetts has been caught by federal and state authorities. Seven individuals have been accused of stealing catalytic converters from almost 500 cars between 2022 and 2023. The thieves had the skill to extract the catalytic converters from the vehicles in under a minute, and they targeted both residential and commercial vehicles with the use of jacks and power tools. The gang then put the stolen parts in the back of the maroon Acura they used.

The catalytic converters are essential vehicle parts that help reduce pollutant gases from car engines into safe emissions via chemical reactions. The expensive and rare components include precious metal catalysts such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium. It has been alleged that the stolen parts were then sold to a chop-shopper, who, in turn, sold them to scrap dealers throughout the Northeast. The gang’s actions have caused significant financial losses for victims who were forced to pay for costly repairs, and it interfered with the daily lives of numerous victims.

The leader of the crew was believed to work full-time, working multiple nights per week for over eight hours per night, and was involved in each theft. Law enforcement officials said that on many occasions, the gang targeted more than ten vehicles in a single night, and one time, they committed 26 thefts.

The criminally active group also conspired to steal from banks’ ATMs in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022 and burglarized two New Hampshire jewelry stores in January 2023. In total, the gang is charged with five crimes under which they can face immense fines and prison sentences.

Police officials from Massachusetts and New Hampshire were involved in the arrests, and federal and state authorities worked together to solve the case.

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