PA Man Charged With Theft Of Catalytic Converters In Bethesda: Police

BETHESDA, MD — A Pennsylvania man was arrested on charges of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles in Bethesda, according to the Montgomery County Police Department.

Thomas Tabbs, 23, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was charged with the theft of two catalytic converters that were stolen on Feb. 20 in the 10500 block of Montrose Avenue in Bethesda, police said.

Police across the nation have seen the number of catalytic converter thefts drastically increase in recent years. Catalytic converters are usually made up of three precious metals: platinum, palladium and rhodium. The value of the precious metals has risen sharply, with the prices paid for stolen catalytic converters increased in line with the higher values.

At about 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, police officers responded to the Bethesda location on Montrose Avenue for the report of a theft of vehicle parts.

While at the scene, officers saw a dark blue Volkswagen Touareg traveling northbound on Tuckerman Lane. Officers determined the Volkswagen matched the description of the suspect’s vehicle. Officers followed the Volkswagen and then initiated a traffic stop in the area of Tuckerman Lane and Rockville Pike, police said.

The officers searched the Volkswagen and found “evidentiary value” that connected Tabbs to the crime, according to police.

Officers also determined that Tabbs had an outstanding arrest warrant in Montgomery County. Tabbs was then placed under arrest for the warrant and transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit, police said.

On Feb. 22, police obtained an arrest warrant for Tabbs, charging him with theft, malicious destruction of property, possession of burglary tools and rogue and vagabond for the Feb. 20 incident, according to police. Tabbs was served with the arrest warrant at the Central Processing Unit, where he was then released on a $1,000 unsecured personal bond, police said.