Posted on 03/17/2023 1:47:25 PM PDT by grundle
OAKLAND, Calif. - A Vacaville man was killed while allegedly stealing a catalytic converter in Oakland, according to police and media reports.
The coroner on Wednesday identified the man as 35-year-old Eric Chabot.
Oakland police said that on March 10 about 3 a.m., he was found underneath a car "committing a crime at the time of their death" in the 400 block of Lagunitas Avenue near Lake Merritt.
The East Bay Times reported he was trying to steal a catalytic converter from a parked Prius nearby.
Authorities told the news organization that it seems like the carjack Chabot was using malfunctioned causing the Prius to slip and crush him. A backpack containing cutting tools was found near him, authorities said.
The converter was still intact, police said.
A growing number of people have been crushed to death while trying to steal catalytic converters in the past few years.
One death happened in Berkeley in March 2020, another in Anaheim in March 2021, another occurred in Palmdale last month and a third occurred this month in Savannah, Georgia.
Anyone with information should call the OPD Criminal Investigations Division at (510)238-3326.
Cleary he was pressed for time.
It is at least in the running for the feel-good news story of the day.
The Prius converter is actually among the most sought after ones for thieves.
No kidding!? Any idea why?
CARMA !!!
Why is that the case?
Forget the distance from Vacaville to Oakland. Some of these criminals are coming all the way up from South America for "Crime Tourism".
https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/crime-tourists-south-american-theft-group
As for selecting a Prius catalytic converter to steal, apparently it's worth more money than converters from many other vehicles.
“The converter was still intact, police said.”
“Whew! I’m so relieved!”
I’m rather attached to my catalytic converter, thank you very much!
“The converter was still intact, police said.”
Always good to have a happy ending!
“I am very confused. How is this not news?”
I’m with you. Hopefully the mod or someone else answers.
“The thugs need to focus on stealing cat converters from pickups where they do not need to jack up the car.”
Most of them are now gone, at least in California.
This is such a shame.
I wish this poor man a full recovery so that he can go back to his career of stealing catalytic converters in Oakland.
Catalytic converters in hybrids have a higher concentration of precious metals compared to cars that run solely on gas.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-09-07/catalytic-converter-theft-toyota-prius-old
sounds exhausting...
I'll be darned. I had no idea. I wonder why they have more precious metals in them? You would think they would have less.
Karma
Also the Dehead and Dechest!
FTA: “committing a crime at the time of their death”
~~~
It was a single individual, so it should say “his death.”
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