(Woodland, CA) – January 26, 2023- Bill Young, Jr., 38, of West Sacramento was arraigned in Yolo County Superior Court on charges related to a catalytic converter theft.
Young Jr. was arrested by the West Sacramento Police Department on January 22, 2023, on suspicion of grand theft and vandalism. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office charged Young Jr. with felony violations of Grand Theft, Vandalism, and Receiving Stolen Property. Additionally, it was alleged Young Jr. was out on bail or his own recognizance in a separate case.
Young Jr. entered not guilty pleas and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on February 16, 2023, in Department 8. The court released Young Jr. on Supervised Own Recognizance.
A catalytic converter is part of a vehicle’s exhaust system. They often contain precious metals such as platinum, gold, rhodium, and palladium that have high value in the metal recycling market and make them an item of choice among thieves and crime rings. Replacement costs for catalytic converters range from $1,000 to $3,000 and often it can take weeks or months for an automotive repair shop to get the right catalytic converter.
On September 17, 2022, in an effort to deter would-be thieves and to track stolen catalytic converters, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office and the Davis Police Department teamed up with Hanlees Toyota for Operation Etch and Catch. This community safety event offered FREE etching of vehicle’s license plate number onto owner’s catalytic converters. Doing so will help reduce the number of thefts of catalytic converters.
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