Eureka Police are investigating two incidents at Dobbs Tire and Auto Center, 1299 W. Fifth St., where catalytic converters were stolen. The two thefts appear to be connected, police reported.
The first theft happened at about 9:30 p.m. July 12 when a catalytic converter was cut off a 1999 Ford E-150 van left at the business earlier that evening. The cost to replace the converter was estimated at $1,300, the report said.
Surveillance video showed what appeared to be a Toyota RAV4 headed west on Fifth Street and quickly slowing down as it passed Dobbs. The SUV then could be seen in the O’Reilly Auto Parts parking lot, 1321 W. Fifth St., before showing up on the Dobbs’ parking lot, according to the report.
After the SUV stopped in the parking lot, two men wearing black clothing and black masks got out, and one of the men was carrying a saw and got under the van. The other man appeared to be keeping lookout. After about six minutes, the men got back into the Toyota and drove away, the report said.
The second theft happened at about 12:40 a.m. July 20, when a converter was cut off a 2005 Hyundai Santa Fe. The cost to repair the SUV was estimated at about $1,000, Eureka Police reported.
Surveillance video showed a black SUV with three men inside pull into the parking lot. Two of the men, who were wearing black clothing and masks, got out of the SUV and one of them got under the Santa Fe while the other appeared to be keeping a lookout. About five minutes later the two men got back into the SUV and left the area, the report said.
Lt. Michael Tapp said it is not known if the men seen in the surveillance video were the same from both incidents.
As of July 28, the converters had not been recovered and the men had not been identified, Tapp said. He asks anyone with information about the incidents to call Eureka Police at 636-938-6600.