Berkeley sees 7 catalytic converter thefts in just hours
Officers spotted the suspect vehicle but could not chase it due to BPD's pursuit policy, authorities said.
Berkeley police are investigating a spate of catalytic converter thefts overnight, about half of which took place near Ashby BART.
The thefts began around 10 p.m. Monday and continued into Tuesday morning, police said. Many of the reports did not come in until later in the day.
At about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Berkeley police spotted the suspect vehicle, which was described as a purple Dodge Charger.
The driver of the Charger fled from police, who were unable to pursue it because of BPD's pursuit policy, which does not allow police chases for nonviolent property crimes.
Berkeley police said several of the catalytic converter thefts happened east of the Ashby BART station — in the 3000 block of Tremont Street, the 2900 block of Lorina Street and in the 2200 block of Prince Street, where there were two — while others took place around the city: in the 1900 block of California Street, the 2100 block of Fifth Street and the 1500 block of Blake Street.
Most of the cars that were targeted were Toyotas, BPD said.
Catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley spiked from 2017 through 2022, in line with national trends.
But they fell steeply last year, from about 850 in 2022 to 460 or so in 2023.
So far this year, there have been about 100 catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley, which is more on pace to date with 2019 numbers, according to BPD data.
Update, June 5: BPD provided the following breakdown after publication.
- On June 4 at 3:44 a.m., a catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota Prius parked on the 2100 block of Fifth Street. Witnesses reported seeing three to four masked suspects wearing dark clothing who were driving a Subaru with tinted windows.
- On June 4 at 4:24 a.m., a catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota Prius parked in the area of Grant Street and Blake Street. When officers arrived, they spotted a purple Charger fleeing the area at a high rate of speed. Officers tried to detain the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to yield.
- During the overnight hours of June 3-4, a catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota Prius parked on the 3000 block of Tremont Street.
- During the overnight hours of June 3-4, a catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota Corolla parked on the 1500 block of Blake Street.
- During the overnight hours of June 3-4, the catalytic converters of two Toyota Corollas parked on the 2200 block of Prince Street were stolen.
- During the overnight hours of June 3-4, a catalytic converter was stolen from a Toyota Prius parked on the 2900 block of Lorina Street.
