Man crushed to death by car while apparently trying to steal catalytic converter, Anaheim police say

Man crushed to death by car while apparently trying to steal catalytic converter

A man was crushed to death by a vehicle while allegedly trying to steal its catalytic converter Wednesday in Anaheim, police said.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - A man was crushed to death by a vehicle while allegedly trying to steal its catalytic converter, Anaheim Police said Wednesday.

Around 6:30 a.m. Anaheim Police responded to the 1600 block of N. Placentia Avenue and found a man dead under the blue Toyota Prius.

Police believe he was attempting to steal the vehicle's catalytic converter when the car jack apparently failed and he was crushed by the car.

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The Orange County Coroner's Office responded and removed the body from the scene and will attempt to identify the man.

Catalytic converters, which are attached to the exhaust system of a vehicle, can cost thousands of dollars to replace. They contain precious metals and can be "scrapped" for quick profit.

Catalytic converter thefts have been on the rise in Southern California. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department recently arrested nearly 20 people in connection with catalytic converter thefts and recovered 250 catalytic converters -- a total value estimated at $750,000.

Anaheim Crime and Public Safety News