Man arrested for allegedly stealing catalytic converter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A man was arrested for allegedly stealing a catalytic converter off a parked vehicle, according to South Bend Police.

On Saturday, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of College Street after receiving a call from a resident who believed someone was stealing a catalytic converter from a parked vehicle.

During the investigation, officers believed the suspect may have been involved in the theft of a catalytic converter a few weeks earlier because the vehicle was used in both cases, reports said.

The vehicle was located and officers conducted a traffic stop.

The driver, Michael Tobar, was taken into custody on a warrant from St. Joseph County.

Before his vehicle was impounded, officers located a freshly cut catalytic converter in the back of the vehicle, reports said.

After the converter was located, officers ended their inventory and had the vehicle towed to the crime lab where it could be secured while awaiting a search warrant.

Once the warrant was obtained, officers searched the van and located reciprocating saws, blades and heavy duty gloves, reports said.

Officers took the catalytic converter found in the van and took it to the victim’s vehicle for comparison. Police said the converter matched the cut angles on the victim’s vehicle.

When officers spoke to Tobar, he allegedly confessed to stealing the catalytic converter from the vehicle.