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South SLO County businessman arrested for buying stolen catalytic converters

February 24, 2023

By JOSH FRIEDMAN

Officers arrested a South County businessman Tuesday morning for buying stolen catalytic converters.

The San Luis Obispo County Auto Theft Task Force served search warrants at the Santa Maria residence of Samuel Lopez Lua Sr., 62, and at Lua’s business, Sammy’s Auto Dismantling, which is located on the Nipomo Mesa. Investigators found a combined total of 14 catalytic converters at Lua’s home and dismantling yard, according to the CHP. Officers also found a U-Haul trailer at Sammy’s Auto Dismantling that is suspected of having been stolen. 

Authorities arrested Lua near W. Harding Street and N. Pine Avenue in Santa Maria for purchasing stolen catalytic converters. Officers booked Lua in jail and later released him from custody on $80,000 bail.

The Auto Theft Task Force conducted the investigation in coordination with the San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices, as well as the California Department of Motor Vehicles and SLO County Code Enforcement.


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Courts need to make an example of this transgressor and sentence him (along with his accomplices) to hard time in prision. Hopefully, other auto dismantling yards are not trafficking in stolen items.


30

Maximum prosecution! This conduct is costing people HUUUGE money.


This dude is small fry, though. He’s probably just selling to individual/DIY mechanics looking to replace what was probably theirs in the first place. The cartels rea different story.


29

By the thumbs! Finally, the people that thought about buying stolen merch are getting pinched. Maybe that’ll stop the thieving. If no one is buying, No need to steal to sell.


37

9 of those catalytic converters are basically worthless …if Lau was purchasing them, I see no reason why …Those 9 worth about $3.00 to $7.00 each at scrap converter buyers …It is not illegal for anybody to buy a used catalytic converter …it is illegal to install a used catalytic converter in Cali. …popular used stolen catalytic converters such as hybrids sell for big money, a good majority of hybrid converters are ordered by muffler and auto repair shops from thiefs that steal the converters those shops order from them .. Stolen crash Air bags was big business in eastern states for decades …Catalytic converter thefts are big money for thiefs in California because Cali cats are manufactured with a Cali E.O. number which makes Cali cats cost 5 to 20 times higher than 49 state cats .. 49 state New catalytic converters start at around $40.00 brand new…but do not have Cali E.O. number therefore a smog technician cannot verify if Cali legal because cat has no Cali E.O. number … A good majority of stolen cats in Cali are stolen by the vehicle owners or their friends …then owner turns in estimate to insurance company for $1500.00 to $5000.00 and tells insurance they will install their own new cat …..and they either reinstall their old cat and pocket the insurance check or they buy a new cat because their old cat was defective causing a check engine light and failing smog …so they had insurance pay for their vehicle repair …Hopefully my comment will be published


1

“A good majority of stolen cats in Cali are stolen by the vehicle owners or their friends …then owner turns in estimate to insurance company for $1500.00 to $5000.00 and tells insurance they will install their own new cat …..and they either reinstall their old cat and pocket the insurance check or they buy a new cat”


Do you have any stats or links to back that up? Or are you just making things up?


11

He is just making that up. I hope he is happy he got his lame comment published!


-1

A single catalytic converter theft ring was busted by the feds recently — and they’re looking at forfeiting $545 M in proceeds. That’s one theft ring.


There are plenty of thieves getting caught here in our neck of the woods. CalCoast has reported plenty of times on the thieves getting caught:

https://calcoastnews.com/2022/05/3-arrested-for-catalytic-converter-thefts-in-san-luis-obispo-county/


https://calcoastnews.com/2022/04/slo-man-arrested-in-la-county-for-catalytic-converter-thefts/


https://calcoastnews.com/2022/03/deputies-arrest-2-catalytic-converter-thieves-recover-stolen-converters/

https://calcoastnews.com/2020/09/catalytic-converters-stolen-from-atascadero-car-lot/


To think that most cat thefts are insurance fraud is a joke. Just because you “know a guy who knows a guy who did it,” doesn’t meant it’s “the majority.”


13

I agree with you. You need to have full coverage to get a stolen CC covered, and most people do not carry full coverage on their vehicles. If you follow the local stories on this type of theft, you will see the same names repeated, or friends/family members.


1

You are just babbling and are wrong! My son had his stolen three times off his Prius. First time was up north and he bought a used one and installed it, 2nd time was in Orcutt and he drove to SD, bought a used one and installed it. The thieves check back on houses with Prius and then they do it again. 3rd time the sheriff’s gave him back one because they caught someone in his neighborhood with a few in the back seat. They gave him paperwork and a muffle shop welded it back on with a shield. So far so good. If you don’t have full coverage, you pay for the replacement out of pocket. No owner is running a scam, but maybe you are one of the bad guys! This is just ridiculous – “A good majority of stolen cats in Cali are stolen by the vehicle owners or their friends …then owner turns in estimate to insurance company for $1500.00 to $5000.00 and tells insurance they will install their own new cat …..and they either reinstall their old cat and pocket the insurance check or they buy a new cat because their old cat was defective causing a check engine light and failing smog …so they had insurance pay for their vehicle repair” I hope they delete your comment, it is nonsense!!  


0