Georgia man chokes to death while trying to steal catalytic converter: police
A Georgia man was crushed to death by a car when he allegedly tried to steal a catalytic converter from a local auto shop, police confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Matthew Eric Smith, 32, was found dead at around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday after a catalytic converter fell and crushed him at a South Bound Auto Sales store, according to the Chatham County Police Department.
TEXAS MAN CHOKED MOTHER BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT GIVE HIM HER CAR: POLICE
Auto shop owner Mike Abuharb shared that he found the body of a man when he came to work in the morning.
“I didn’t even get close to him,” Abuharb told WTOC-TV. “I immediately called the police.”
VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SENTENCED FOR ALLEGED EXPLOITATION OF UNCLE WITH ALZHEIMER DISEASE: REPORTS
Police ruled the death an accident, saying that Smith’s death was “the result of an attempted theft of a catalytic converter”.
“Is it worth it? Steal a catalytic converter and sell it for $100,” Abuharb told WTOC. “Losing your life? This is wrong”.
Catalytic converters are part of a vehicle’s exhaust system and control emissions. They have valuable metals like platinum and rhodium that criminals can carve in seconds and sell in landfills.
CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Each catalytic converter can fetch upwards of $1,000 on the black market, and the lack of VIN or serial number information makes it hard to trace.
Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News