MAYWOOD (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A Worth Township man has been charged after over 600 catalytic converters were recovered from his property earlier this month, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said patrol officers responded to a burglar alarm at a residence in the 6000 block of 128th Place in unincorporated Worth Township. As the officers walked along the perimeter of the property, they spotted what appeared to be hundreds of catalytic converters through a hole in a backyard fence.
Investigators soon discovered that the property belonged to Ramsy Sandoka, 40, who owns a towing company. The sheriff’s office said they found no records that Sandoka or his business possessed a license to buy, sell, recycle, or possess catalytic converters.
On May 9 — two days after the patrol officers reported the catalytic converters — sheriff’s police and state authorities searched Sandoka’s residence and recovered 612 catalytic converters. The sheriff’s office said it was “one of the largest recoveries of the vehicle part in the state.”
On Wednesday, Sandoka was arrested and charged with aggravated possession of a stolen vehicle, which is a felony. He was also hit with several misdemeanors.
Officials said that catalytic converter thefts have increased by more than 400% since 2019 nationwide, with Illinois ranking third in thefts. Thieves have been targeting the parts due to the precious metals contained in them, which can be sold at a high value, the sheriff’s office said.
Over the past year, several law enforcement agencies have worked to combat the increasingly common thefts. In February 2023, the Evanston Police Department held a catalytic converter tagging event, during which they spray painted “EPD” on the part.
Evanston wasn’t the only municipality to try spray paint. Niles held similar events with the hope that spray painted catalytic converters will be less valuable for resale and therefore deter criminals from attempting to sell them.
In October 2022, police in Skokie went a different route: They gave away hundreds of free car alarms. The devices make a loud sound when someone tries to remove a catalytic converter
Sandoka was scheduled to appear for a bond hearing at the Bridgeview courthouse on Thursday.
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