3 Catalytic Converter Thieves Caught In Action In Petaluma, Police Say

PETALUMA, CA — Officers arrested three suspected catalytic converter thieves out of Hayward early Wednesday morning in Petaluma.

Around 3:05 a.m. Wednesday, the Petaluma Police Department received a call from a resident on Weatherby Way who just had the catalytic converter stolen from their Toyota Sequoia SUV. The victim's son heard the sound of power tools cutting metal and when they went outside to investigate, they saw a white SUV drive away.

An officer then located a white Ford Edge heading westbound on Caulfield Lane near Lakeville Street. The car's headlight was out and the registration returned out of Hayward.

The officer called for a cover officer and followed the SUV as it entered northbound U.S. Highway 101. When the SUV reached the East Washington Street offramp from 101, the officer initiated a traffic stop.

Inside the SUV, officers saw a person laying across the back seat. As the suspect, later identified as Dora Alicia Cordero, 44, of Hayward, sat up, officers saw multiple catalytic converters that she was attempting to conceal, police Lt. Garrett Glaviano said.

Officers begin to detain the people inside the car and when they opened the front passenger door they saw a gun in the door's pocket. Alberto Tolintino, 45, of Hayward, was in the front passenger seat and was uncooperative and not listening to officers' instructions, Glaviano said.

Officers retreated and gained cover from their car and tried to de-escalate the situation.

As they ordered Tolintino to get out of the car, he ran away.

Officers detained the driver, Adolfo Esteban Estrada Manuel, 28, of Hayward, and Cordero without further incident and secured the handgun.

Tolintino was still outstanding so they set up a perimeter and began a search with the help of a Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter crew, a sheriff's K9 unit and sheriff's deputies.

Tolintino was found in the waterway that parallels the north curb line of East Washington Street. When he was discovered he took off again but was taken into custody after a foot chase and a brief struggle, Glaviano said.

Inside the car, officers found four catalytic converters.

As of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, the one taken from Weatherby Way was the only one reported to the Petaluma Police Department.

Officers also found methamphetamine and a glass pipe used to smoke methamphetamine on the passenger seat where Tolintino was seated.

All three suspects were booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a felony, grand theft, possession of stolen property, and possession of burglary tools.

Tolintino was additionally charged on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a concealed firearm, and two counts of resisting arrest.

Tolintino, who also had an outstanding warrant for vehicle theft out of Alameda County, remained in custody Wednesday afternoon in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Jail information for Manuel and Cordero was not available indicating they were released from custody.