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Roseville Resident's Call Leads To Arrest of Catalytic Converter Suspects

ROSEVILLE (CBS13) — Roseville police are crediting a resident in helping lead to the arrest of four Sacramento men suspected in a rash of catalytic converter thefts.

At 3:42 Thursday morning, a resident of the Crocker Ranch/Diamond Creek area called police to report seeing two men working under a vehicle near her home, possibly stealing the catalytic converter.

Numerous Roseville officers converged on the area and soon had three suspects in custody. A fourth suspect got away but was arrested later in Sacramento.

Officers found several catalytic converters inside the suspects' van that police believe were stolen during the night from the Roseville and Rocklin areas.

The following suspects, all Sacramento residents, are in custody on suspicion of grand theft, possession of stolen property and other related charges: Jovi Toua Vang, 20; Cai Vang, 19; Chee Jeff Vang, 20; and Tou Vang, 25.

Area law enforcement agencies are working cooperatively to stop an unprecedented epidemic of metal thefts in the region. The following agencies assisted in Thursday morning's investigation: CHP, Sacramento Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, Sacramento County Probation, SacCATS (Sacramento's auto theft task force), Placer County's Regional Auto Theft Task Force, Rocklin Police Department and Folsom Police Department.

These agencies are also working together to identify scrap metal recyclers who continue to pay for the stolen metal.

Police urge residents to protect their vehicles by parking them inside locked garages whenever possible and to immediately report any suspicious activity to authorities.

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