(Boucherville) Two other alleged criminals allegedly involved in the theft of automobile catalysts have been arrested in recent days, this time in Boucherville, in the Montérégie region.
This brings to more than 30 the number of arrests made since last year by the Longueuil agglomeration police department (SPAL) in connection with the theft of catalysts.
The SPAL says that on the evening of last Sunday, a citizen contacted the police since images captured by surveillance cameras allowed him to see men who were stealing catalysts in the parking lot of a commercial establishment located on Industrial Boulevard. .
Following a short foot chase, officers were able to arrest the two suspects.
The vehicle they were using contained several catalysts and tools.
The suspects have been identified by the police: they are Claudy Gay, 37, and Karel Bomhower, 44. They appeared at the Longueuil courthouse to be charged with theft, mischief and possession of property obtained by crime.
The suspects have similar criminal records. Moreover, the investigation is continuing in order to link them to other thefts of catalysts that have occurred in SPAL territory.
Catalyst is a part of the automobile exhaust system that contains metals that thieves seek out and do not need a long time to remove. For motorists, however, this is an expensive part to replace.
For over a year, numerous thefts of catalysts have been carried out in Quebec and the Maritimes.