By Brett Callwood
In the early hours of Tuesday, June 4, thieves were captured by a surveillance camera stealing a catalytic converter from a Toyota Prius parked on a Gardena driveway. It was discovered by the owner when she attempted to start the car in the morning.
A statement from the Gardena Police Department posted on social media reads, “After hearing a loud and unusual noise coming from underneath her vehicle, she discovered that her catalytic converter had been stolen overnight. She reviewed video surveillance from security cameras on her property, which captured the suspects committing the theft, and called the Gardena Police Department to report the incident. The video shows three suspects involved in the theft. One suspect stole the victim’s catalytic converter while the other two suspects acted as lookouts.”
According to the police, one of lookouts was holding a semi-automatic handgun and pointing it towards the victim’s home and the security cameras.
“After the catalytic converter was removed, all three suspects fled in a dark-colored sedan,” the statement reads. “The Gardena Police Department Detective Bureau is in the initial stages of this investigation.”
Speaking to CBS News, a neighbor said “When I saw the video and the men with the guns, I was surprised that happened in my neighborhood. I hope they catch them because it’s not only the catalytic converter, right? It’s that the three people were armed with guns. If anybody interrupted, they kill them.”
If anyone has further information regarding this incident, please contact. Detective Liliana
Pinela at (310) 217-9654. The report number for the case is DR 24-2671.
