Catalytic converter theft is big time business for some. Reports of theft of those precious pollution control devices are too numerous to keep track of. But what about catalytic converter crooks—do they ever get caught? One Seattle man did—and now he’s headed to prison.
Half dozen catalytic converters rattling around in pickup bed
Dillan Bateman, 40, settled up a plea deal that will see him sit out a 16-month sentence in prison. Not all his “time” is for the theft of catalytic converters. Although he was found in possession of a half-dozen of the devices, he tried to elude police. All the while those cat converters were rattling around in the back of his pickup.
Police in East Wenatchee, Washington—about 150 miles from Bateman’s hometown—said they found the converters and some tools in the truck after catching up with him. Those tools included wire cutters and saws, which, combined with the catalytic converters, made them, well, suspicious. It didn’t help that Bateman was originally spotted near a Costco. That’s where people reported men cutting off cat converters in the parking lot, in broad daylight. After police attempted to stop him, Bateman fled in the truck, eventually getting stuck in snow. He then bailed out and tried hoofing it—to no avail.
Restitution to be determined
Bateman was originally charged with four counts of second-degree malicious mischief and second-degree possession of stolen property and, of course, theft charges. Under the plea deal, his total number of charges was reduced to five. Those included attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, second-degree theft, second-degree malicious mischief, and two counts of second-degree possession of stolen property.
In addition to his prison term, come January, a judge will determine just how much restitution Bateman will have to pay for stealing those catalytic converters.
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I’ve not heard a lot of good about all these cat theft prevention goodies. While they are good in theory, I saw a YouTube video (of course) that showed how most of these devices could be overcome by professional cat thieves. They keep the ‘casual’ thief at bay though.
Maybe also get sentenced to a kick in the _-_- on the first day of his sentence and a similar kick the day before release might do more for rehabilitation than anything else
Thank you, Russ and Tina. The RV does not have one, but the towed Jeep does. 🙁
What about the people to whom he was selling the converters? Were they arrested too? And, if not, why not? If the dealers were put out of business, the stealing would drop.
Earlier in the year due to a family issue, had to put the RV in storage and fly out. It was a ‘secured’ lot. When we got back to pick it up, the cat had been cut out, and the storage place claimed no responsibility. Luckily we found a Camping World not too far away that could replace it. They did all the dealings with our insurance company and gave us a free full-hookup spot to stay in while waiting over a week for the new one to arrive. They dealt with enough of these thefts that they already had a relationship with the insurance adjuster.
We need Don Corleone and Luca Brazzi. A friend of mine from Brooklyn, NY tells me you get caught stealing you don’t walk so well and everyone knows you are a thief.