Officers Respond and Recover Stolen Property and Detain Individuals Involved
By Dolores Quintana
In the early hours of June 28th, the Santa Monica Emergency Dispatch Center received multiple reports of unusual sounds resembling sawing and metal cutting near Highland and Ocean Park. Responding swiftly to the calls, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department arrived at the scene and conducted a targeted traffic stop, leading to a significant recovery of stolen property.
During the traffic stop, law enforcement officials discovered three catalytic converters, along with a cache of saws and various other tools believed to be used in the commission of the theft. The swift action of the officers in intercepting the suspects resulted in the prevention of further criminal activity.
The two individuals taken into custody have been identified as Andrew Diaz and Bryan Lima, both 21 years old. They were promptly arrested and subsequently transported to the Santa Monica Jail, where they now face charges of grand theft.
Catalytic converter theft is a crime that is growing all over the city, and neighborhood residents reporting these suspicious sounds led to the apprehension of suspects who had stolen property in their car.
