Local law enforcement is looking into whether last week's arrest of two suspected car thieves outside Plymouth is connected to any other vehicle thefts or previously reported thefts of catalytic converters in the area, including one that occurred the same night in Sutter Creek.

Property crime investigators with the Amador County Sheriff's Office, which made the Jan. 7 arrest, are working with police departments in Jackson, Sutter Creek and Ione, where most of the catalytic converter thefts have occurred, as well as the California Highway Patrol, which receives roughly 20 legitimate stolen car reports a year for the county.

"I know that we are looking into recent stolen recoveries in the area," said Craig Harmon, a CHP officer in Jackson, though no connection has yet been determined, he added.

It's a crime that goes "in spurts," according to Sutter Creek Police Chief Rob Duke. The night of the arrest, Duke said his department received a report of a stolen catalytic converter that didn't match any of the ones in the suspects' possessions, leading investigators to examine a number of theories.

The arrest last Monday occurred when a sheriff's deputy on patrol spotted two men standing between two cars on a gravel patch at the turn-out area on Highway 16 near the Highway 124 intersection. The spot is known for other vehicle thefts, according to Undersheriff Jim Wegner. When the deputy slowed his patrol vehicle and turned around, the two men quickly entered a black 1997 Honda Accord and turned onto Highway 16 toward Sacramento.

"They didn't get too far," Wegner said. "They almost caused an accident when they took off," which is the main reason the deputy detained them, for unsafe entry onto the highway. Inside the car, the deputy noticed a towel draped over the steering column, concealing a screwdriver that had been jammed into the ignition.

As the deputy spoke with the two subjects, later identified as Jason Chang, 24, and Senom Saelee, 33, both of Sacramento, a dispatcher confirmed the car he detained was reported stolen out of Sacramento County.

Additional personnel from the sheriff's office and Sutter Creek and Ione police departments assisted in a vehicle search, which revealed a catalytic converter that had been removed from a Toyota, miscellaneous hand tools, a cordless reciprocating saw, a vehicle jack and numerous pairs of gloves. The other vehicle located on the dirt shoulder of the highway was a blue 1991 Toyota pickup, which showed fresh saw cuts on the exhaust pipe at the catalytic converter.

"It seems to be a hot item," Harmon said of stolen catalytic converters, "easy to sell, hard to track."

Ione police Chief Mike Johnson agreed, saying, "It certainly seems the converter thefts are a growing trend across the state." Johnson guessed that Ione experienced a handful of catalytic converter thefts in recent weeks, but said he would know the exact number after a statistical inquiry this week.

The sheriff's department in El Dorado County, too, has seen an upswing in stolen cars and vehicular burglaries in the El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park areas, most of which have occurred at night. Thefts have come from locked and unlocked vehicles parked in driveways or on the surface roads in the two communities, according to a news release from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department. On rare occasion have the burglaries occurred while the vehicle was parked in a garage. Most of the items taken have been ones left in the passenger compartment in plain view.

Chang and Saelee were charged with vehicle theft, tampering with a vehicle, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of stolen property. Because they had been at the Jackson Rancheria Casino earlier, Wegner said tribal police is providing the sheriff's office with video surveillance.

Asked about the prevalence of catalytic converter thefts, Wegner said he believed most happened in the cities. "There have been a few cases," he said. "I don't know that we (currently) have any in the (unincorporated) county. I think we averted one, at least."

Preventing vehicle burglaries

· Always lock your doors and set your alarms, if you have one.

· Overnight, the safest place to park your vehicle is in your garage, then your driveway, but not in the street if possible.

· Avoid leaving anything in your vehicle overnight, even if it is in your garage. Burglars can still gain entry.

· Packages should be out of sight and not stored in your vehicle long-term.

· Do not leave valuables, personal information or keys in your vehicle.

· Make a copy of your vehicle registration and insurance card and leave it in a safe place other than your vehicle.

Source: El Dorado County Sheriff's Department