Festus Police are investigating the recent thefts of catalytic converters from two vehicles at Crystal Heating & Cooling, 3 Cave Industrial Drive, in Festus, Chief Tim Lewis said.
“One of our officers was patrolling the area by Crystal Heating & Cooling and saw footprints in the snow going toward the business,” Lewis said. “He found where the fence had been cut.”
The incident occurred about 4 a.m. Jan. 26, and after employees were contacted and arrived at the scene, they discovered catalytic converters had been stolen from a 2011 Ford F-250 pickup and a 2003 F-350 pickup, both owned by the business, Lewis said.
“It was like the officer interrupted (the thieves) as it happened, because he found a blade nearby,” he said.
Lewis said the catalytic converters were valued at $850 each and the cost to repair the fence was estimated at $600.
As of Jan. 31, the stolen items had not been recovered and no arrests had been made, he said. Anyone with information is asked to call Festus Police at 636-937-3646.