Five individuals were arrested Thursday following a coordinated law enforcement operation that uncovered approximately 2,400 stolen catalytic converters linked to a theft ring operating in Southern California. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in collaboration with multiple agencies, executed search warrants across locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties, marking the culmination of a three-month investigation.
The investigation focused on a surge of thefts involving catalytic converters, vehicle components known for containing valuable precious metals such as palladium, platinum, and rhodium. These metals, used in catalytic converter manufacturing, have driven a rise in related criminal activity, according to federal authorities.
Officials estimated the recovered catalytic converters to be worth about $4.3 million. In addition to the stolen automotive parts, law enforcement officials seized several large shipping boxes filled with precious metals, two unregistered firearms, and over $105,000 in cash.
The five suspects arrested face charges of grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. They have been identified as Jorge Alberto Delgadillo, 35, from Maywood; Julio Moreno Reyes, 40, Gilberto Valdovino, 27, and Brayan Cruz De Leon, 20, all from Los Angeles; and Hugo Saenz Marin, 24, from Compton.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reported that two of its units played a central role in uncovering the network behind these thefts, highlighting an ongoing effort to address the growing problem of catalytic converter thefts in the region.