2 women arrested for catalytic converter thefts in Burnaby, RCMP say

Police said they arrested two women who were in possession of multiple catalytic converters and tools last month. (Burnaby RCMP)

Police arrested two women who had “several catalytic converters” in their possession in Burnaby last month, but the “numerous potential charges” they face have not yet been laid.

The women were arrested on Jan. 22, Burnaby RCMP said in a news release Wednesday.

Around 4:30 a.m. that day, front-line officers from the detachment responded to a report of “two suspects underneath a van in a parking lot” near the intersection of Brighton Avenue and Lougheed Highway.

By the time officers arrived, the suspects had fled the scene with the vehicle’s catalytic converter, police said. However, the person who called in the theft was able to provide a description of the suspects' vehicle.

Patrols in the area were able to locate the two suspects, who were arrested with “several catalytic converters and tools in their possession.”

“While we have seen the number of catalytic converter thefts dropping in Burnaby, this incident is a reminder that these types of thefts are still happening in our community,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj, in the release.

“We would like to acknowledge the witness who saw suspicious activity and called police right away.”

Mounties did not name the women, who have not yet been charged, describing them only as “a 38-year-old from Surrey and a 39-year-old from Abbotsford.”

The investigation is ongoing, police said.

Catalytic converters, which are part of a car’s exhaust system, are a frequent target for thieves because they contain precious metals and can be removed in less than a minute by a person crawling under a vehicle with a saw.

Vans, trucks and SUVs are often targeted because they tend to be higher off the ground and easier to get underneath.

Last year, Burnaby RCMP seized 439 catalytic converters from a single suspect, who they alleged was buying the stolen parts and shipping them across the border to the United States.

• Read more: 439 catalytic converters seized from single suspect: Burnaby RCMP

Online court records show the suspect in that case is next due in court for a pre-trial conference on March 12.