Grand Island Police investigating string of catalytic converter thefts

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Grand Island Police are investigating after eight catalytic converters were reported stolen from four locations in the past two days.

Shortly after midnight Sunday, a man reported that three vehicles parked in the parking lot in the 3700 block of West 13th Street had catalytic converters removed from them. On Monday, Integrated Life Choices, 603 S. Webb Road, reported two catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles between last Friday and Monday. The total damage of the vehicles was estimated at around $5,000.

On Tuesday, GIPD received two additional reports of catalytic converter thefts, with Capital Business Systems, 830 North Diers Ave., reporting that two catalytic converters were removed from a vehicle sometime between April 1 and Tuesday. Another individual reported a catalytic converter was cut off of a delivery truck in the 3200 block of Old Potash Highway between last Friday and Monday.

Capt. Jim Duering said all of the thefts appear to be related.

Duering said scrapyards in Grand Island are aware of catalytic converter thefts and will contact GIPD if someone brings in one to sell. He added it is likely that whoever stole these catalytic converters are selling them elsewhere since none of the local scrapyards reported any catalytic converters being brought in to them.

The thefts remain under investigation and no arrests have made. However, Duering said GIPD contacted a 2019 Dodge Caravan, seen in surveillance footage as being involved in one of the catalytic converter thefts, at Comfort Inn, 3535 State St. just before 2:30 p.m. Monday.

GIPD contacted Brianna Clark, 31, of Wentzville, Missouri, as a passenger inside the van. A male driver was not at the scene when officers arrived.

A drug pipe was observed in plain view in the passenger side door compartment.

A search of Clark’s purse found a user amount of methamphetamine, packaging, syringes, pipes and other drug paraphernalia. No catalytic converters were found inside the vehicle.

Clark was arrested for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Grand Island is not the only community dealing with catalytic converter thefts. The Merrick County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post Tuesday that it is investigating catalytic converters in the Chapman area.

Anyone with information on any catalytic converter theft is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency.