Cops say three accused catalytic converter thieves will ring in the new year in the Boyd County, Kentucky jail after a quick-thinking citizen caught them in the act.
An Ashland, Kentucky neighbor was awakened by a sawing sound outside their home around 3 am. When they looked outside, they spotted a blue Jeep parked next to their truck, one person under their vehicle, and another standing beside it. They snapped a photo of the incident and immediately called 9-1-1.
The caller’s description of the vehicle matched that of another call that came in only a few minutes earlier. The first officer on the scene narrowly missed the crooked crew who drove off as he arrived. He quickly confirmed a missing catalytic converter and broadcast a description of the vehicle.
A Boyd County deputy spotted the vehicle at the Speedway on US 60 and radioed for backup. When the deputy pulled in behind the vehicle, one man tried to run away but was apprehended by the deputy. Two Ashland Police Officers arrived on the scene and found another man and a woman near the vehicle.
Police also discovered the tools of their crooked trade in the vehicle. They found cordless says, and two cut-out catalytic converters in their Jeep.
Officers arrested three suspects on theft charges:
Steven Leslie Clark (44) of Boyd County
Bethany Nicole Sturm (30) of Ashland
Daniel W. Kinder (25) of Catlettsburg
Police say the rash of catalytic converter thefts comes down to two reasons, “The parts are valuable. A cordless saw can make quick work of the removal. Inside, the converters consist of platinum, rhodium, and palladium, all of which are precious metals. A converter’s scrap value can yield well over $200 per piece. If the precious metals are removed and separated, it can yield thousands per ounce. Owners notice when they start up their cars and they hear very loud noises and smells coming from their vehicle. Replacement costs are reported to be over one thousand dollars.”
All three suspects were taken to the Boyd County Detention Center.