San Francisco police said thieves made off with catalytic converters taken from the Police Department's own vehicles this week.
Around 1 p.m. on Monday, a San Francisco police officer discovered that a marked police truck parked on Potrero Hill in San Francisco had its catalytic converter stolen.
After inspecting other police vehicles, the officer saw that several other marked police vehicles had their catalytic converters stolen, Police Department spokespeople said.
The thefts occurred near a Police Department-leased building surrounded by numerous police cars and vans at 17th and De Haro streets. In total, four department vehicles — two trucks and two vans — had their converters stolen, according to the Police Department.
The thefts were first reported by Mission Local.
No arrests have been made and it remains an open investigation, the Police Department said. You may remain anonymous.
Catalytic converter thefts have skyrocketed across the Bay Area, particularly during the pandemic, as shelter-in-place orders left more cars sitting vulnerable in streets and driveways. Thieves can often remove the devices in minutes.
Just hours before the police vehicles were targeted, a San Francisco police officer was injured and hospitalized while chasing suspects who had stolen a converter, department spokespersons confirmed.
Officers responded to a report of a catalytic converter theft at the 400 block of Chestnut Street in the Marina district at around 5:08 a.m. Monday morning. The victim told officers two people stole his converter and fled in a vehicle.
After officers spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it, the driver fled, hitting one of the officers in their car.
Officers chased the suspects, who struck both parked and occupied vehicles and eventually took off on foot. Officers detained a female suspect, but a man was still at large, Police Department spokespersons said.
No other injuries were reported aside from the officer, who had non-life threatening injuries. This too, remains an open investigation. Anyone with information in either case is asked to call the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD. You may remain anonymous.
___
(c)2022 the San Francisco Chronicle
Visit the San Francisco Chronicle at www.sfchronicle.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
