San Rafael, CA – On 08/24/19, San Rafael Police Officers arrested Jose Melgoza-Rojo, a 43-year-old Oakland resident, and Douglas Mejia, a 33-year-old Oakland resident, after it was discovered that they were responsible for stealing a catalytic converter from a vehicle.

At 10:00 PM, San Rafael Police Officers took a report of a catalytic converter theft that occurred in the area of Kerner Boulevard and Shoreline Parkway. The victim reported that he had parked his car around 8:00 PM and returned just before 10:00 PM.  When the victim turned his car on, he heard an unusual amount of engine noise coming from his vehicle.  The victim inspected his car and observed that the catalytic converter had been cut out and removed.    

At 10:20 PM, another officer was driving on Canal Street near Medway Road when he observed a vehicle with no license plates. The officer made a traffic stop and contacted the occupants. While on the traffic stop, the officer observed a freshly removed catalytic converter in the vehicle. Officers also located drug paraphernalia. 

The officer from the theft report arrived at the traffic stop and assisted in the investigation.  Both officers were able to match the found catalytic converter to the one stolen from the victim’s car.  Officers also located a reciprocating saw and additional tools that were used to remove the catalytic converter.  Two additional catalytic converters were also located in the suspect’s vehicle.

Jose Melgoza-Rojo and Douglas Mejia were arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for felony conspiracy to commit a crime, breaking/removing vehicle parts, possession of stolen property, felony vandalism, possession of burglary tools, and possession of drugs, and possession of drug paraphernalia.