STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A group of Grinches allegedly stole a catalytic converter from a car parked in front of a family home in New Springville days before Christmas.
A woman, who declined to have her name published in the Advance/SILive.com, shared what she claims is video footage of individuals who stole the catalytic converter from her family’s Volkswagen Jetta parked on a quiet street off of Rockland Avenue around 4 a.m. on Wednesday.
“I’m holding myself together, but it’s hard, it’s crazy,” the woman said as she reached out to the Advance/SILive.com in an attempt to alert the public about these thefts and the hardships they bring during the holiday season.
“I can’t believe it,” she said of the theft that happened “right in front of my house. It’s scary.”
The woman said her security cameras captured a white car with four male occupants pulling up alongside the Jetta. They step out of the car and one of the males slips under the Jetta, removes the catalytic converter and tosses the car part into the trunk of the white car. The males then hop back into the white car that speeds away. The entire episode lasted about 30 seconds, the woman said.
She described the getaway car as a white, Acura TLX with a black fin.
“It’s like the Grinch stealing catalytic converters,” she said of the individuals allegedly driving around in an upscale car snatching the valuable parts.
“I live in a beautiful area,” said the wife and mother who grew up on the Island and moved a few years ago to New Springville from Mariners Harbor so that her children could have a “better life.”
She is grateful that a family member didn’t stumble upon the crime in progress, possibly putting their life at risk.
The theft was discovered shortly after 1 p.m. when a family member went outside to drive the Jetta, turned the car on and “it made this weird noise.” Her husband looked under the car and noticed that the catalytic converter was missing which prompted a…
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