Dallas, TX
VIDEO: Man confronts suspect who was stealing catalytic converter in Dallas
DALLAS – A Dallas man confronted a suspect who seemed to be in the course of stealing a catalytic converter from his van final week.
This was all caught on video, and police are actually looking for the suspect.
“I see a man waking across the van and he’s beginning to transfer a number of the stuff below there,” Clay Hayner recalled.
This occurred on August 4, in Dallas’ Design District.
The suspect crawled below the van whereas the proprietor watched it dwell on surveillance footage.
Minutes later, Hayner ran exterior and confronted the suspect.
“After which he seems at me and he holds up like a knife and I simply misplaced it on him,” Hayner recalled.
That is when the battle began.
Hayner, a photographer, grabbed a gentle stand to defend himself.
[REPORTER: “Have you ever had to use this on anyone before?”]
“No,” Hayner responded. “I don’t battle, like, I’ve by no means been in a battle in my complete life.”
Hayner stated this isn’t the primary time somebody seemed to be stealing a catalytic converter from his van exterior his studio.
“Once I noticed him, it was like a buildup of frustration from the previous yr, as a result of that is the fourth time they’ve tried to take it they usually’ve gotten it twice,” he stated.
Dallas police responded, however the suspect received away.
[REPORTER: “In hindsight, do you do anything differently or are you pretty happy with how it was handled?”]
“I’m glad. You realize, a part of me needs I’d’ve been someway in a position to maintain him and maintain him for police and all that,” Hayner replied.
READ MORE: Arrest made in deadly taking pictures of man throughout catalytic converter theft in Dallas final yr
Thefts of catalytic converters are rising throughout the nation as a result of they include helpful metals.
The Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, which tracks crimes reported to insurance coverage firms, stated catalytic converter thefts elevated from roughly 1,300 in 2018, to greater than 52,000 final yr.
Carrollton police detectives recovered a whole lot of stolen catalytic converters simply final week.
Hayner stated he’s by no means confronted somebody like this earlier than.
“And I simply began beating on his hand till I broke it after which he let go,” he stated.
[REPORTER: “Were you scared at all?”]
“No. My adrenaline was going. I didn’t even sleep that night time. My adrenaline was going,” Haynder stated.
He hopes his story serves as a warning for different truck homeowners and potential thieves.
“Don’t come again,” he stated.