A brand new catalytic converter sits on the floor at Johnny Franklin's Muffler on July 11, 2022. in San Rafael, California. Thefts of catalytic converters are surging across the nation as thieves seek out precious metals like platinum, palladium and rhodium that fill the inside of the antipollution car part. Thefts have nearly tripled since the beginning of the pandemic with over 50,000 in 2021 compared to under 20,000 in 2020. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
A person who intervened when their neighbor's car was being targeted by catalytic converter thieves was shot at Thursday, the Oakland Police Department said.
Officers are investigating the shooting that occurred at 1 p.m. on the 4000 block of Coolidge Avenue in the Oakland Hills.
Police said that when officers arrived, they learned that a victim observed two individuals attempting to take a catalytic converter from a vehicle. When the victim proceeded to interrupt the theft, one of the suspects produced a firearm and shot at the victim. The victim was not struck or physically injured. The individuals fled the area following the shooting.
Woman on driver’s side of stolen red Hyundai Elantra fires shot at neighbor who interrupted broad-daylight catalytic-converter theft from this Prius near Coolidge & Alida. No one hurt. “I mean, it’s just so brazen. We have no protection,” Prius owner tells me. @oaklandpolicecapic.twitter.com/qCXqQMKOOs
