UPDATED: Missing a Catalytic Converter?

Alert Clifford Avenue residents called 911 when two men were lurking around neighborhood early Wednesday, effectively thwarting a car theft and helping officers capture two suspected thieves from Sacramento, Watsonville police reported.

The arrests may be tied to a larger theft ring that has been targeting Central Coast cities this winter, local authorities said.

"We're going to be looking at those people in relation to our cases here," said Santa Cruz Police Capt. Steve Clark. There have been more than 15 catalytic converter thefts in Santa Cruz since November.

In Watsonville, Seng Her, 29, and Thai Vue, 27, were arrested at 310 Clifford Ave. just after midnight with three stolen catalytic converters inside a stolen white Honda, police said.

Officers had been sent to the area because residents thought the two men were either breaking into or stealing a truck parked in the lot there. Her was walking away from the area when officers arrived and had two "shaved" keys and automotive tools with him. Vue was hiding under a parked vehicle with a "shaved" key, a small amount of methamphetamine and a glass smoking pipe, according to police.

The men had pulled into the parking lot in a white Honda, which they had used a fourth "shaved" key to drive, and allegedly were in the process of removing a catalytic converter from a Toyota truck when officers interrupted them. Police said there were tools under the truck, several screws had been removed from the component and Her had some of the screws on him.

The Honda they were driving had allegedly been stolen from in front of another Watsonville home in the past few hours. The owner had yet to report the theft, police said.

Three more presumably stolen catalytic converters were found in the Honda, police reported. Officers suspect they were taken from other vehicles in Watsonville and by mid-day had linked them to victims within the city, according to Watsonville Police Lt. David McCartney.

"This crime was interrupted and the case solved due to alert neighbors who called the police upon seeing suspicious activity and should be commended for their willingness to get involved," Watsonville Police Sgt. Burt Iles said in a prepared statement.

Her and Vue were identified by witnesses as the men tinkering with the Toyota pickup and were arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, vehicle tampering, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools. Vue was also booked on drug charges, according to police.

Clark said Santa Cruz police have been investigating whether Central Valley Asian gangs are responsible for the thefts in the area.

Four Sacramento men were arrested in January in Roseville for allegedly stealing catalytic converters, . Jovi Toua Vang, 20, Cai Vang, 19, Chee Jeff Vang, 20, and Tou Vang, 25, reportedly had a van with stolen auto parts in it.

"We've definitely been working with folks up in Sacramento about these guys' background," McCartney said. That will include criminal records, gang affiliation and if they have ties to the auto industry, like a chop shop.

Watsonville police assigned their Auto Theft Task Force officer to the case because a car was stolen and because that investigator is part of a multi-agency team who can more easily collaborate with Santa Cruz police and authorities in Sacramento, according to McCartney.

Catalytic converters are taken because they contain small amounts of precious metals that can be mined from the auto parts and sold. In January, an employee at Ed's Recycling on Freedom Boulevard was cited for illegally purchasing a catalytic converter without the proper business license and for not getting the seller's personal information. Police suspected the auto part was stolen property.

But until this week, catalytic converter theft hadn't been much of an issue in Watsonville.

"We know that the county of Santa Cruz and the city of Santa Cruz have had significant numbers," McCarntey said. "We've been watching for it."

Toyota trucks and sport utility vehicles are popular targets for thieves because the auto part is easily accessible on those vehicles and can be removed with a tool like a Sawzall in a matter of moments. It costs between $800 and $1,500 to buy one, and another $125 to put it in.

Parking inside a secure area, like a garage, or installing motion sensor lights are ways to deter these thefts.

If you woke up this morning to find you're missing a catalytic converter (likely stolen from a Toyota pickup or SUV), call Watsonville police detectives at 768-3350. People can also call the Crime Tip Line with information at 768-3544.