HOLLYWOOD PARK, Texas – A Hollywood Park police officer made an arrest in a catalytic converter theft after the suspect ran off but then returned to the scene minutes later, allegedly trying to play off his involvement.
An officer patrolling the 16100 block of San Pedro Avenue noticed a flash of light coming from under a parked vehicle. When he got closer, he saw two feet sticking out, according to Hollywood Park Police Chief Shad Prichard.
“Because we have been hit several times as well, we pretty much had an idea of what was going on,” Prichard said.
The officer saw the suspected thief get up, drop his saw and take off running. But minutes later, the suspect returned to the crime scene, saying he was there to pick up his stolen truck.
“The officer knew exactly what he was wearing, saw him face-to-face, had his flashlight on him. So he had a really good description of the individual. So he was caught,” Prichard said.
James Jasso, 30, is charged with misdemeanors, criminal mischief and evading arrest.
Police say the catalytic converter Jasso was attempting to pull off was still hanging on, but there were three others inside the vehicle, along with metal cutting equipment.
Tai Nguyen, who owns the van involved in the theft, says this has happened many times before in the decades he’s done business in the area.
“Based on my information from the last time, it’s going to run me $500 to $700 just to replace the catalytic converter,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen said he’s grateful to the police, who managed to stop the theft this time.
Prichard has a plan to protect other Hollywood Park businesses that have to leave their fleet of vehicles in the business parking lot, where they are more likely to be targets of more thefts.
Prichard is teaming up with a local garage shop to use high-temperature spray paint to tag the catalytic converters with the VINs. He says doing so could help tip-off buyers that the piece is stolen and trace it back to a victim.
“When you talk to the salvage yards, and you’re just being honest, you’re saying, ‘Listen, what is it that could deter you from buying this?’ Prichard said.
“So we’re going to spray paint it, and we’re going to put initials on it or whatever identifier we can,” he continued.
The program will start in the next few weeks. Any Hollywood Park area business interested should contact the police department for information.