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2 arrested in connection to catalytic converter theft

| March 19, 2021 1:00 AM

Two people were recently arrested in connection to a catalytic converter theft in Coeur d'Alene.

Robert Van Ness, 34, Spokane, was arrested March 5 for grand theft and malicious injury to property by Coeur d’Alene police and booked into the Kootenai County jail.

His sister, Corina Van Ness, 37, also of Spokane, was taken into custody in the Spokane area on March 11 and booked into the Spokane County jail. She is awaiting extradition to Idaho, according to the Coeur d'Alene police Facebook page.

The two were reportedly involved in a theft of a catalytic converter from a vehicle parked at a closed business in the 3200 block of north Government Way during the week of Feb. 20.

The Coeur d’Alene Police Department reported it has received multiple reports of thefts of catalytic converters from passenger cars, RVs and trucks during the past five months.

According to Car and Driver, thieves target catalytic converters because of the value of precious metals in them, and they are relatively easy to steal.

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Corina Van Ness