Man who stole catalytic converter was crushed to death in Union County, delegates say – WSOC TV

UNION COUNTY, NC – A man trying to steal a catalytic converter was killed when the car he was in fell on top of him, authorities said.

According to the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Wednesday night, deputies were called to a home on the West Unionville Indian Trail.

Upon arrival at the scene, investigators found a dead man underneath the Toyota Prius.

James Maye, with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, said: “The homeowner pulled into the driveway. “He had a lot of vehicles in his driveway and basically saw the bottom half of a person sticking out from the front bumper of his Toyota Prius.”

[ ‘It’s a lot of money’: More catalytic converters being stolen during pandemic, police say ]

Detectives said they found evidence that the man was cutting the car’s catalytic converter. At one point during the exhaust cut, the Prius fell from the jack, crushing the man.

“It looks like the car fell on top of him while he was trying to cut the catalytic converter off,” Maye said.

Deputies said the man did not live at home. Its name has yet to be revealed.

“A catalytic converter and the small amount of scrap it holds are not worth the risk of your life,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The investigation is underway.

(SEE BELOW: ‘That’s a lot of money’: Many catalytic converters stolen during pandemic, police say)