Catalytic converter thieves caught in St. Peters
September 2, 2008
St. Peters
Jeremy Caldwell
Charles Wallace
Seth Hanlon
Wallace was charged with Attempted Theft over $500 (Class D Felony) with a bond of $15,000.00. Hanlon was charged with Felony Stealing (Class C Felony). Caldwell was charged with Attempted Theft of $500 (Class D Felony) with an unknown bond.
The subjects stated they can receive anywhere from $60 and $300 for a catalytic converter, which contain platinum. The catalytic converters are located underneath the main body of the vehicle and are part of the exhaust system.
The thieves cut the catalytic converters off of the vehicle and take them to a recycling center for cash. SUV’s and trucks are the most targeted vehicles because it is easier to get underneath the vehicles with a saw to remove the converters.
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Two males were caught attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a vehicle on 08/28/08 after midnight on the lot of Mid Rivers Lotus car dealership at 5140 I-70 Outer Road North.
The subjects were identified as, Charles S. Wallace, 20, of Warrenton, and Jeremy Caldwell, 18, of St. Peters.
Caldwell and Wallace were pulled over by P.O. Greg Bittle after he noticed their Ford Taurus leaving an abandoned parking lot at 12:50 am.
When he contacted the vehicle occupants he noticed Caldwell and Wallace were covered in grass, dirt and grease. Due to a high volume of catalytic converter thefts in the area recently Officer Bittle received consent to search the vehicle. During the vehicle search, he discovered a copper pipe and a reciprocating saw.
Officers conducting an area canvass found a building under construction and noticed a portion of the copper piping had been removed. The officers also found a bag containing a pipe cutter and numerous metal blades lying on the lot of Mid Rivers Lotus car dealership. One vehicle was damaged on the lot of Mid Rivers Lotus after the subjects allegedly attempted to remove the catalytic converter.
During the investigation, officers received information that another subject was involved with other catalytic converter thefts in the St. Peters area. That suspect was identified as Seth Hanlon, a 21 year-old from O'Fallon.
Hanlon was arrested and charged with a theft from June of 2008. More charges are pending against Hanlon from St. Peters Police.
Wallace, Caldwell, and Hanlon are suspects in numerous other cases from St. Peters and surrounding agencies in St. Charles County and St. Louis County.