HOUSTON – Two men have been arrested and charged with theft for stealing catalytic converters in Houston.
Juan Gonzales III, 34 and Nicholas Angelo Holland, 36, are accused of at least three thefts in northwest and southeast Houston since April.
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Gonzalez and Holland were caught after Houston police released surveillance video of the men and their vehicle at a news conference on May 25.
In each incident, the men cut the catalytic converters out of pickup trucks with a power tool. They then loaded the converters onto a maroon Toyota Tacoma and left the scene.
In an additional incident on May 9 at 10810 Shepherd Falls, a man reported that his license plate had been stolen from his vehicle and at least $300 in toll road charge violations had been accumulated.
Acting on a Crime Stoppers tip, Gonzales and Holland were identified. Members of the HPD West Patrol Division Tactical Unit arrested Gonzales on July 18 without incident. Holland was located in a state jail for an unrelated case.
The converter thefts were reported at the following locations:
- Mobilease Auto Sales at 1100 Blalock about 3:40 a.m. on April 5.
- Auto Nation at 12227 Gulf Freeway about 4:30 p.m. on May 6.
- Project C.U.R.E Houston at 8251 Kempwood about 9 a.m. on May 9.