California Woman Runs Over and Kills Man Trying to Steal Catalytic Converter

A man was run over and killed during an apparent attempted theft outside of a Target in Palmdale, California, just north of Los Angeles on Tuesday evening.

The man was attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a lifted 4×4 Ford Excursion according to authorities. There was a woman asleep inside the vehicle at the time of the attempted theft. She heard noises and thought someone was breaking in so she started the vehicle and put the car in reverse.

The woman then “felt a bump like she ran something over,” so she got out and called 911 when she saw the suspect on the ground.

The man who had attempted to take the catalytic converter wasn’t alone as he had pulled up to the vehicle in a car with three others who were arrested, another man and two women.

The man who was run over was pronounced dead after being taken by ambulance to Antelope Valley Hospital.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt Hugo said, “The victim turned her vehicle on, put it in reverse, heard a thump and stopped the vehicle, and then saw that there was a suspect underneath the car that had been run over by her car.”

Lifted vehicles are targeted for catalytic converter theft as it is easier for criminals to get underneath according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. The Sheriff’s Dept. suggests etching or engraving your vehicle license plate number on the catalytic converter as well as the VIN, as well as welding the catalytic converter to the car’s frame.

Parking in well-light areas close to home or inside if possible is also wise. It’s too bad that this situation had to end the way it did.