Global Courant 2023-05-12 05:55:04
Authorities in the Chicago area have recovered more than 600 stolen catalytic converters found on the property of a suspected thief.
Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said he couldn’t think of any other bust across the country where more catalytic converters had been found.
1 MILLION CAR THEFTS BY 2022 DUE TO WEAK ENFORCEMENT AND YOUTH TRANSFERS, SAYS NICB
More than 600 stolen catalytic converters were found on the property of an Illinois man. (Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
Ramsy Sandoka, 40, is charged with a misdemeanor and misdemeanor charge of failing to keep records of purchases of recyclables, selling/buying catalytic converters and violating the metal recycling law.
On May 7, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglar alarm in Worth Township. No one was home when they knocked on the front door. As deputies walked by the property, they noticed hundreds of catalytic converters in a metal box and others piled up along the fence.
It belonged to Sandoka, authorities said. Investigators said he owned a towing company, but found no records that he or the company is licensed to buy, sell, recycle or own catalytic converters.
Rusted catalytic converters placed in a giant box. (Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
“Sandoka was unable to provide investigators with documentation to show that he owned the car parts or that he had a license to buy, sell, recycle or possess them,” the sheriff’s office said.
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On May 9, authorities seized the inverters, some of which appeared to have been recently cut off. Catalytic converters are a valuable target for thieves because of the precious metals they contain, which can be sold at a high price.
