$8.2M catalytic converter theft ring operated out of Philly business, officials say

After a year-long investigation, Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub, on Tuesday, detailed how law enforcement officials were able to bust a multimillion dollar catalytic converter theft ring.

He said that the ring operated out of TDI Towing, located along the 2300 block of Wheatsheaf Lane in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood.

According to Weintraub, the "kingpin" of this operation was Michael Williams, 52, of Philadelphia, owner of TDI Towing.

He said that Williams is cooperating with the investigation.

"Candidly, because we caught him red-handed," said the district attorney.

Since 2020, Weintraub said, 2,000 catalytic converters have been reportedly stolen throughout Bucks County.

These items -- which help filter harmful chemicals out of a vehicle's exhaust -- can fetch a fair price as, he said, three chemicals in a converter, rhodium, platinum and palladium, have significant resale value.

A catalytic converter, Weintraub said, contains less than an ounce of these materials.

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At the height of its operation, Weintraub said this criminal theft ring was buying 175 catalytic converters a week -- at a price of about $300 each.

The district attorney said that, over that time, that means TDI Towing was likely involved in the buying and reselling of over 25,000 likely stolen catalytic converters for a total of about $8.2 million in loss to victims targeted by the thefts.

"Our goal - to put them out of business," Weintraub said of the investigation. "A corporate death sentence."

He said that, through this investigation, along with Williams, officials charged nine other adults, and one juvenile, for their alleged roles in a theft ring that targeted vehicles in both Bucks and Montgomery counties, as well as throughout the Delaware Valley.

The day's announcement comes not long after officials in Bucks County met with state officials earlier this month to discuss legislation intended to crack down on the sales of illegally procured scrap metal.

A bill -- HB 791 -- is currently making its way through the state's House of Representatives, that would add additional identification requirements for the sales of scrap materials -- like catalytic converters -- to scrap processors and recycling facility operators.