Posted on 04/02/2022 7:19:57 AM PDT by real saxophonist
Man arrested after several stolen catalytic converters found in his trunk
By: Sydney Isenberg
Apr 01, 2022
WELD COUNTY, Colo. — A man was arrested Tuesday after several stolen catalytic converters were discovered in the trunk of his vehicle, according to the Weld County Sheriff's Office.
Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, deputies were called out for a reported catalytic converter theft from an RV dealer outside of Longmont. Security video showed a gray Nissan sedan with "distinctive damage" to the rear passenger door as a possible suspect vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies remembered passing a similar vehicle at a nearby hotel on their way to the scene and circled back. They spoke with a woman who was in the backseat, who said the car belonged to a man named Austin. The woman told authorities that Austin was staying in one of the rooms of the motel.
Deputies could see license plates, bolt cutters and Sawzall blades inside the car, according to the sheriff's office.
The woman told authorities she had met Austin two days ago and didn't know his last name or phone number. The sheriff's office said she then returned to the motel, entering an unknown room.
Deputies proceeded to conduct a canvas of the immediate area to see if the vehicle was involved in any other criminal activity the night before. A short time later, according to the sheriff's office, the woman left the motel with a man and walked down the street.
Deputies stopped the couple to speak with them. The man initially identified himself using a fake name, Jack Nickelsen, and a fake date of birth, according to the sheriff's office. He eventually told deputies his real name, Austin Lee Brumfield, and said he lied because he had an active warrant for breaking and entering out of Wyoming. The sheriff's office determined Brumfield did not have any active warrants out of Wyoming.
Authorities obtained and executed a search warrant for the Nissan and discovered several more catalytic converters in the trunk that had been stolen from northern Colorado, according to the sheriff's office.
Brumfield, 29, of Laramie, Wyoming, was arrested Tuesday for false reporting to authorities, theft and two counts of first-degree criminal trespass. He was booked into the Weld County Jail on a $1,500 bond.
The stolen catalytic converters had an estimated value of $5,600, including the cost of labor to repair the two RVs.
The sheriff's office said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending.
ALL THIEVES OF ANY KIND= shot on sight
Should have been twenty times that amount.
This guy is probably out of jail already and committing new crimes to pay off his bond fees.
Guilty. One year in prison. Next case please.
Just Biden putting more people back to work the build back better plan in action.
Anyone who is that much of a predator on society simply needs executed.
This rotten, filthy thief should be required to pay each victim triple the cost of the damages he caused, payback throughout his life if necessary. Shot as punishment would be appropriate too.
His parents doomed him by giving him the middle name "Lee." That never ends well.
Haha, true.
Inflation and the Russia/Ukraine conflict are driving up the price of precious metals. So converters are becoming more valuable as thefts.
Generally the larger the engine, the more “good stuff” in the cat, and thus more valuable.
In 2019-2020:
the top five states for catalytic converter thefts were California, Texas, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Illinois.
This acc to https://www.nicb.org/news/news-releases/catalytic-converter-theft-skyrocketing-nationwide
NICB
Modern Day Horse thieves!
I had to find another car in a hurry, because I was driving for Domino's at the time. Luckily, I had the means to do so, but a lot of people don't.
I am sure his parents must be so proud of sonny boy./sac
I always thought that it’d be fun to have an alert system that automatically deflates the tires when a thief starts monkeying around with the cat converters on their victim’s car.
Well, you never know what a CC thief may have for a weapon.
If you see a knife and he makes a furtive movement towards you - and you are armed, depending on your state law, you may be justified (in a legal sense) to take action to defend yourself.
Something along the lines of "Wow, he lunged towards me with a knife, I had to shoot as I feared for my life (or insert your state law standard here). Hmmm... there's a knife, right next to his hand."
The scrappers are in on it too.
That happened to my Daughter with her 1995 Honda Civic. It was old, but it still ran. After the converter was taken the insurance company wrote it off as total loss. Good thing is, that her company provided her with a company car. (Which they should have done earlier!)
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