Skip to content

Catalytic converter theft lands frequent offender back in jail

Suspect arrested May 16 had been previously charged in connection with a series of rural break-and-enters
RCMP
A tip about a suspicious individual led the Barrhead RCMP to arrest a suspect who had stolen a catalytic converter out of a truck in the Manola area on May 16.

BARRHEAD — One of four individuals arrested in early April in connection to a series of break-and-enters throughout Westlock County and the County of Barrhead has been arrested again for the theft of a catalytic converter. 

According to a Barrhead RCMP news release, officers responded at approximately 6:45 a.m. on May 16 to a report of a suspicious man in the ditch along Manola Road. 

Police located and arrested a 27-year-old man who was in breach of his curfew. When he and his backpack were searched incidental to his arrest, police located a freshly stolen catalytic converter and reciprocating saw. 

The male confessed to having stolen the converter from a yard in the Manola area. Examination of a truck at the scene revealed there was a space in the truck’s exhaust system where the converter would fit perfectly. 

The suspect appeared before a justice of the peace May 16 and was remanded until May 23. 

The release confirmed that the man had been one of four individuals arrested on April 5 in connection with a series of break-and-enters targeting rural properties in the Barrhead and Westlock areas. 

He had also been arrested while committing a break-and-enter on April 23 and was again released from custody on the same conditions he had been previously subject to. 

Kashe Sperling-Veitch now faces a total of 14 charges on five separate files, including breaking and entering and possession of stolen property. 



Kevin Berger

About the Author: Kevin Berger

Read more



Comments