Police Keeping An Eye On Car Thefts

There are some common-sense things we can all do to prevent car theft: lock the doors, hide valuables, park in well-lit areas, etc. There's another precaution few people think of that could help stop crime.

Insurance companies suggest etching the car's VIN number on the catalytic converter to help stop rings of thieves.

There were two thefts of catalytic converters reported to the Twin Cities Police Department this week, following a week in which there were four reported thefts.
The Sonoma County Sheriffs Department and Novato Police recently arrested Michael Helms, 47, and Larry Eugene Hernandez, 45, both of El Sobrante, on suspicion of stealing three trucks for the catalytic converters. The two men were in Marin County Superior Court on Thursday morning.There is no confirmed connection between the incidents, according to Twin Cities Police Det. David Woo, who says there are likely a few rings operating in the Marin County area. Twin Cities Police arrested a man and woman earlier this year in connection with catalytic converter thefts at Corte Madera Town Center.

Appearing in the Twin Cities crime log this week:

• A Greenbrae resident reported that during the night while her vehicle, a 2006 Honda Element, was parked in the 2100 of Redwood Highway, her catalytic converter was stolen. The theft was unwitnessed. A Grand Theft report was taken.

• A Mill Valley man reported that while his boss’ Range Rover was parked in the 700 block of Larkspur Landing Circle the catalytic converter was stolen.

Thefts of catalytic converts have spiked in recent years as the market for their precious metals, including trace amounts of palladium, rhodium and platinum, have skyrocketed. California passed a law in January 2010 requiring recyclers to document each converter brought in to be sold for scrap.