Thanks to an alert resident, the Benicia Police Department was able to thwart a catalytic converter theft in progress this week, according to a news release.

At about 4:15 a.m. Thursday, the resident called to alert officers of a suspicious vehicle and two people that appeared to be casing their neighborhood in the 700 block of Buchanan Street.

At the scene, officers saw the described vehicle and a second vehicle that was up on a jack. Officers recognized that the incident could possibly be a catalytic converter theft in progress.

A suspect in the vehicle was detained but the second person fled the scene and was unable to be located, BPD added.

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of multiple burglary tools, a freshly cut catalytic converter, shaved keys, suspected narcotics, and more.

The suspect on the scene was arrested and booked into Solano County jail.

Source: www.mercurynews.com