An alert victim assisted officers in arresting a pair of catalytic converter thieves in the Roseway neighborhood.
On Sunday, January 19, 2020 at 7:35a.m., North Precinct officers were dispatched to a report of a theft in progress at an automobile dealership in the 6400 block of Northeast Sandy Boulevard. As officers were responding, they got an update that the victim was following the suspects. An officer located the suspects driving in a vehicle and stopped them at Northeast 86th Avenue and Northeast Prescott Street, where two suspects were arrested.
Officers located in the suspects' vehicle a stolen catalytic converter along with car jack and other tools believed to have been used to remove the car part (photos).
Andrew C. Ooten, 48, of Portland and Donald L. Newcomb III, 39, of Portland (photos) were booked in the Multnomah County Detention Center. Ooten is being charged with Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, and, for a previous catalytic converter theft case, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Newcomb was charged with Criminal Mischief in the First Degree.
The victim who assisted officers has agreed to media contact and interviews. Media can contact ppbpio@portlandoregon.gov to obtain his contact information.
In recent months the Police Bureau has seen a dramatic increase in reports of thefts of catalytic converters, which contain valuable metals such as palladium. PPB has taken 129 reports of the catalytic converter thefts between June 1 and December 31, 2019. Additionally, 44% of the incidents within Multnomah County from 6/1/19 to 12/31/19 occurred in North Precinct. Between June and October of 2019, there were an average of 4 catalytic converter thefts per month. In November and December of 2019, North Precinct averaged 21.5 catalytic converter thefts, an increase of 438%. We believe that is a dramatic underreporting of the number of such incidents. We believe many victims do not report the crime thinking that it will not make a difference. At times, if we get the reports, we can better track organized criminal groups, aggregate the charges against the suspects, and submit them to the District Attorney's office for prosecution.
We are asking community members to report these thefts when they happen. If there is no suspect information, then they can report at their convenience online on our website, https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/cor/ . The link is on the front page. Those making reports will receive a case number by e-mail. Or, victims can call the police nonemergency dispatch line at (503) 823-3333.
We also encourage awareness of this issue. Community members can help minimize the risk of being victimized by parking in a garage or well-lit area when possible. If you see someone working on a vehicle on your street late at night, especially if you hear the sounds of sawing, then call 9-1-1 and report it. If anyone has surveillance video of a confirmed theft that has not been shared with police, then call the non-emergency line at (503) 823-3333.
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