Theft suspects ram officer in getaway

A pair of suspected catalytic converter thieves drove through a parking garage gate, striking and injuring a police officer while fleeing arrest Tuesday, authorities said.

San Leandro police responding to reports of a catalytic converter theft in progress at a gated parking garage on the 1100 block of Carpentier Street early Tuesday morning found a suspect and a getaway driver trapped inside the garage, Lt. Ali Khan said in a statement.

Officers attempted to catch the suspects by placing “stop sticks at the exit point,” Khan said — road spikes used to puncture car tires.

But the suspects struck an officer with their car and rammed through the gate to exit the garage as they fled the scene, Khan said, showing “total disregard for human life.”

A car chase ensued, Khan said, as police followed the suspects to Oakland. Police arrested the driver, whose name has not been released. It was not immediately clear what happened to the second suspected thief.

The officer’s leg was injured, but did not require emergency medical assistance, Khan said.

Catalytic converter thefts are surging across the Bay Area, with thieves targeting the costly emissionscontrol device for its rising resale value on an underground market. Thieves often work at night and target unmonitored cars, according to law enforcement officials.

San Leandro saw a 65% increase in catalytic converter thefts this year, compared to 2020.