Media Contact: Sgt. Hauptmann
Office: 818-937-8888
Cell: 818-299-1565
Email: GPDPIO@Glendaleca.gov

Two Males Arrested for Catalytic Converter Theft

On July 8, 2021, at approximately 4:30 a.m., a Glendale PD patrol sergeant was patrolling in the area of Irving Ave and Glenwood Rd when he observed a vehicle illegally parked in the middle of the road along the 1100 block of Irving Ave with its brake lights on.  The vehicle was stopped directly next to a legally parked vehicle and the sergeant could see a subject going back and forth between the two vehicles.  The illegally parked vehicle eventually, reversed all the way up Irving Ave to Glenwood Rd where it began driving westbound, then parked in front of a driveway without using its turn signal.

The sergeant conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle for the observed violations and as he was walking up to contact the driver, he observed two cut off catalytic converters along with a vehicle jack and stand in plain view inside the vehicle.  The driver, 45-year-old Arturo Guijarro of Los Angeles, and the front passenger, 38-year-old Arturo Leal of Los Angeles, had conflicting stories for what they were doing at the location.

Another officer responded to the 1100 block of Irving Ave and located a parked vehicle that had its catalytic converter cut off from it.  The owner of the vehicle was contacted and it appeared that the catalytic converter had just been stolen.  During a search of Guijarro’s vehicle, officers recovered the two freshly cut off catalytic converters, the vehicle jack and stand, numerous new and used reciprocating saw blades and methamphetamine pipes.

Guijarro and Leal were both arrested and booked for grand theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.