Suspected catalytic converter thieves who crashed into LASD vehicle charged

Two males suspected of stealing catalytic converters from parked automobiles, main authorities on a high-speed chase after which crashing right into a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy’s automobile final week appeared in court docket Tuesday.

The 2 males have been recognized as Vue Xiong, 31, of San Luis Obispo, and Fong Vang, 38, of Merced.

Xiong and Vang have been arrested final Saturday after the automobile they have been in crashed right into a Sheriff’s Division automobile that was concerned in an unrelated pursuit.

Previous to the crash, authorities had been pursuing their automobile on the 5 Freeway after a report of a number of catalytic converter thefts within the Santa Clarita Valley. The pursuit was in the end known as off because the van approached harmful speeds, LASD officers stated on the time.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Legal professional’s Workplace launched new particulars in regards to the arrest, together with that their automobile ran a pink gentle earlier than crashing into the deputy’s cruiser, and that eight catalytic converters have been recovered from contained in the van.

Xiong and Vang appeared in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom and have been every charged with three felony counts of grand theft and one felony depend of tried grand theft, the DA’s Workplace stated.

A 3rd individual was detained on the scene of the crash and was transported to the hospital for remedy. They weren’t recognized and no data was launched about any prices they could face, though they have been known as a suspect within the case.

District Legal professional George Gascón stated his workplace is working with regulation enforcement to prosecute catalytic converter thieves to the fullest extent of the regulation, however warned that the thefts are “notoriously tough” to prosecute.

Gascón highlighted his sponsorship of California Senate Invoice 986 which might forestall automobile sellers and retailers from promoting new autos except the automobile identification numbers (VIN) are etched onto the automobile half. The invoice additionally would prohibit recyclers from paying money for recycled converters, the DA’s workplace stated.

This explicit case continues to be investigated by the Sheriff’s Division.