TEWKSBURY – Chief Ryan Columbus reports that the Tewksbury Police Department has obtained an arrest warrant charging a man with stealing a catalytic converter from a Tewksbury resident’s recreational vehicle.
DAVID DION, AGE 34, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, will be charged with:
- Larceny Over $1,200
- Vandalizing Property
On Wednesday, March 30, at approximately 11:15 a.m., Tewksbury Police responded to a report of an individual attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a home on North Street in Tewksbury.
A homeowner reported that they had noticed two people in their driveway and confronted them. Police learned that the suspects fled in a dark-colored GMC Envoy. Upon an initial investigation police confirmed that the catalytic converter was missing from the homeowner’s recreational vehicle.
The homeowner was able to provide police with photographs of the vehicle and suspects, as well as home surveillance footage.
Tewksbury Police were able to identify the vehicle involved, and asked law enforcement partners to be on the lookout.
Later Wednesday, Massachusetts State Police found the vehicle abandoned on Interstate 95 in Topsfield. State Police made contact with a man who was walking along the highway nearby, but did not take him into custody.
Further investigation by Tewksbury Police identified that man as DION, who is known to Tewksbury Police.
Tewksbury detectives collaborated with law enforcement partners at the Boxford Police Department to locate DION. Boxford Police arrested DION on two unrelated warrants.
DION was arraigned Thursday in Haverhill District Court on those warrants, and was ordered held. In the meantime, Tewksbury Police obtained a warrant for DION’s arrest.
DION will be arraigned Friday in Lowell District Court.
“Catalytic converter thefts are extremely costly to those who are victims, and they are becoming more prevalent around the area as the cost of precious metals — such as the small amounts of platinum that are in catalytic converters — have risen,” said Chief Columbus. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners at the Massachusetts State Police and Boxford Police Department for their important assistance with this investigation.”
In response to an increase in such thefts across the region recently, Tewksbury Police would like to provide the following tips to help prevent such thefts:
- Park in well-lit areas.
- Park close to building entrances or the nearest road in public parking lots. This leaves your vehicle in a location where many people can see it.
- If you have a personal or shared garage, keep your vehicle parked inside with the door shut.
- Add video surveillance to the area where you regularly park your vehicle.
- Install a catalytic converter-specific security device, such as an aluminum plate that, once installed, can provide a strong barrier against theft.
- Adjust the security system on your vehicle, if already installed, to activate from vibrations, such as those produced by a saw.
- Remember to call the police and report where your car was parked when your catalytic converter was stolen. Provide as many identifying details that you can, including the time when the theft most likely occurred.
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.