For the second time in a week an Indiana State Trooper foiled an attempted theft of a catalytic converter from an abandoned vehicle along the interstate. Two men were arrested last Friday when a Trooper caught them stealing a catalytic converter from an abandoned vehicle on I-70.
Earlier Friday Detective Chris Hanson from the Indiana State Police was driving south on I-465 near Pendleton Pike when he saw two vehicles stopped on the right shoulder. He noticed one of the vehicles had an orange abandoned vehicle tag and two men were lying on the ground under that SUV. Hanson pulled over with the vehicles and a subsequent investigation revealed an alleged catalytic converter theft was afoot.
Forty year old Stefan Hartford of Shelbyville and 31 year old Jeremy Prater of Flat Rock were arrested on preliminary charges related to the theft.
The theft of catalytic converters from abandoned vehicles along central Indiana interstates is not uncommon. We would like to remind motorists to only leave your vehicle abandoned if absolutely necessary and return to get it as soon as possible. Motorists are encouraged to report suspicious activity around disabled for abandoned vehicles to police. Rarely do roadside repairs involve the use of any type of saw, if you see someone with a saw approaching a disabled or abandoned vehicle please get a description of the person or vehicle they are driving and report it to police.