BRYAN, Texas — Four people from Houston have been arrested in Bryan after being suspected of stealing catalytic converters.
Malik Oliver, 25, Brian Solares, 18, Tadrien Taylor, 18 and Braydron Williams, 17 are all charged with theft, organized criminal activity and unlawful possession of a criminal instrument.
Authorities said a person called in about suspicious activity in the 1900 block of Austin's Colony Parkway early Tuesday morning. The caller gave descriptions of the four men and the vehicle. Officers were able to respond quickly to the scene and they found the vehicle leaving the area.
Officers said they did a traffic stop on the vehicle and found a catalytic converter and tools for removal of the device inside the vehicle.
Officers said they arrested the four men and they were taken to the Brazos County Jail. Oliver, Williams, Solares and Taylor are currently in the Brazos County Jail on $5,000 bond.
4 arrested in Bryan, suspected of stealing catalytic converters
How to prevent catalytic converter theft
While not always the case, thieves targeting a catalytic converter will go for vehicles that are higher off the ground due to the ease and efficiency of the crime. But, don't let that give you a piece of mind. This kind of theft can happen to any vehicle owner. There are a couple of things you can do to help protect yourself from being a victim:
- Have your catalytic converter welded to your vehicle's frame.
- Install a catalytic converter anti-theft device.
- Install a car alarm.
- Install video surveillance outside your home.
- Engrave your VIN or license plate number into the converter.
- Park in busy, well-lit areas of a parking lot.