[LASD] – The Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station’s Crime Prevention Unit and Crime Analyst have identified several sporadic incidents of catalytic converter thefts occurring in many zones throughout the Santa Clarita Valley.

Dating back to January 2012, there have been 15 reported incidents as outlined in the attached map. Zone 3 Stevenson Ranch, Zone 5 Valencia, Zone 7 Canyon Country West and Zone 8 Canyon Country East have been the areas most affected. Fourteen of the fifteen incidents involved Toyota vehicles – usually Tacoma, Tundra, and 4-Runner models. Seven of the incidents have occurred in he month of May, with six in the Canyon Country area and one in Newhall. Three of the incidents have occurred during daytime hours in the College of the Canyons parking lot. Deputies believe the recent thefts may be being perpetrated by the same individual(s).

Detectives from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Burglary and Theft Team are investigating the following reported incidents:

• 12-00570 | 1/12 | Thu | 1700 – 1930 | 18000 VIA PRINCESSA, CANYON COUNTRY |1987 TOYOTA SR5

• 12-01803 | 02/06 | Mon | 1800 – 2100 | 25500 THE OLD RD, STEVENSON RANCH | 2003 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-01804 | 02/06 | Mon | 0930 – 1930 | 26400 ROCKWELL CANYON RD, VALENCIA | 2001 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-01841 02/07 | Tue | 1800 – 1900 | 26400 ROCKWELL CANYON RD, VALENCIA | 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-02612 | 02/21 – 02/22 | Tue | 1400 – 1100 | 27600 THE OLD RD, VALENCIA | 1999 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-03650 | 03/14 | Wed | 1100 – 1230 | 26400 ROCKWELL CANYON, VALENCIA | 1993 TOYOTA

• 12-04103 | 03/25 – 03/26 | Sun | 2200 – 0600 | 25300 THE OLD RD, STEVENSON RANCH | 2004 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-04133 | 03/25 | Sun | 1800 – 2230 | 19100 GOLDEN VALLEY RD, CANYON COUNTRY | 1994 TOYOTA TUNDRA

• 12-04176 | 03/25 – 03/26 | Sun | 1930 – 0500 | SIERRA HWY & SOLAMINT DR, CANYON COUNTRY | 2002 TOYOTA TACOMA

• 12-05984 | 05/01 – 05/03 | Tue | 1632 – 1330 | 23700 VIA CANON, NEWHALL | 2002 NISSAN QUEST

• 12-06723 | 05/17 – 05/17 | Thur | 1900 – 1700 | DOLAN AVE & SIERRA HWY, CANYON COUNTRY | 1996 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

• 12-06797 | 05/18 – 05/20 | Fri | 1200 -1300 | 17200 MOUNT STEPHEN AVE, CANYON COUNTRY | 1989 TOYOTA SR5

• 12-06791 | 05/18 – 05/20 | Fri | 1730 – 0800 | 28000 VALCOUR DR, CANYON COUNTRY | 1997 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

• 12-06814 | 05/19 – 05/20 | Sat 2100 – 1100 | 29400 SEQUOIA RD, CANYON COUNTRY | 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

• 12-06801 05/20 | Sun | 1000 – 1330 | 26000 SIERRA HWY, CANYON COUNTRY | 1994 TOYOTA 4RUNNER

Crime prevention deputies are asking all Santa Clarita Valley residents, especially those who drive the indicated vehicles, to keep a close eye on their neighborhoods and vehicles. Residents should look for people working on vehicles at odd times or locations, loitering around them with no apparent purposes, possessing tools or saws, or crawling underneath the vehicles.

Another indicator may be a second person sitting in a separate vehicle nearby with no apparent purpose acting as a look out. Immediately report any suspicious activity or persons to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. It seems these thieves are targeting these trucks because they are higher off the ground and easier to access.

Residents can take other precautions, such as parking vehicles in a garage or a well-lighted areas, listening and reacting to sounds coming from the street in the middle of the night and dogs barking excessively for no apparent reason and immediately calling the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station with specific information. Be a good witness and get license plate numbers or take a cell phone picture when safely possible.

Deputies would like to talk to anyone who may have information pertaining to these thefts. Contact your Crime Prevention Team Zone Leaders at the following numbers:

Crime Prevention Team (CPT)

Zone 1 Gorman

Deputy John DeYoung – 799-5801

Deputy Gerry Newbold – 799-5801

Zone 2 Castaic / Val Verde / Youth Activities League (YAL)

Deputy Ana Rubalcava – 255-1121 ext. 4283

Zone 3 – Stevenson Ranch / Team Leader Floor Sergeant

Sergeant Ron Olfert – 799-5802

Zone 4 – Saugus / Reserve Deputies Patrol & Training

Deputy Mark Manskar – 799-5161

Zone 5 – Valencia

Deputy Regina Yost – 799-5164

Zone 6 – Newhall / Reserve Deputies Posse and Search Rescue

Deputy Joshua Dubin – 255-1121 ext. 4411

Zone 7 – Canyon Country West

Deputy Jeremy Carr – 799-5158

Zone 8 – Canyon Country East

Deputy Jeff Jackson – 799-5159

To report crime tips anonymously, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

A free TipSubmit mobile application is now available for the iPhone and Android. The new software tool is an anonymous and fully featured crime tipping mobile application that even allows you to submit images or video. More information at www.tipsoft.com.

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