Long Island Man Gets Another 2 to 4 Years In Prison For Catalytic Converter Theft

RIVERSIDE, NY — A Medford repeat offender serving two to four years incarceration for a previous catalytic converter heist had his sentenced doubled up on Wednesday, as a Suffolk judge added another sentence for his part in a similar theft in Rocky Point, Suffolk prosecutors said.

Daniel Labbe, 43, was sentenced to two to four years in prison for stealing two catalytic converters from a work truck in Rocky Point in 2022. At the time of his plea, he was already serving a prison sentence for a previous catalytic converter theft, prosecutors said.

The two sentences will run consecutively.

District Attorney Ray Tierney said that in Suffolk, "you cannot steal other people's property without consequence."

"Our law enforcement partners will find you and arrest you, and we will do our best to send you to prison,” he said. “We care about quality-of-life crimes, like catalytic converter theft. There is no place in Suffolk County for this kind of conduct that hurts our residents.”

Catalytic converters are a valuable part of a vehicle’s exhaust device using precious metals, like platinum, in their center to reduce pollutants from a vehicle’s engine. The part can be stolen from underneath a vehicle in only a few minutes using a reciprocating saw.

Labbe admitted taking two catalytic converters from a work truck parked at MJM Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc. on Route 25A in Rocky Point in October 2022, prosecutors said.

Labbe pleaded guilty to second-degree auto stripping last month.

In January, he was one of three men indicted in connection with allegations they stole catalytic converters from trucks and vans in Rocky Point, Holbrook, and Bellport, Suffolk prosecutors said.

His attorney, Keith O’Halloran of Westhampton Beach, said his client has "accepted responsibility" and "has apologized to the court."

"He is looking forward to putting this behind him and making amends to his family for what he is putting them through," he said.