Catalytic converter thieves shoot at Berkeley resident

BERKELEY — A North Berkeley hills resident was shot at Thursday morning by thieves trying to steal a catalytic converter from a neighbor’s vehicle, police said.

The resident was not hurt and the thieves fled empty-handed.

The shooting was reported about 6:10 a.m. Thursday on Oak Street near Glen Avenue.

Police said a resident woke up to the sounds of sawing outside his home. When he walked outside to investigate, he saw at least two suspects attempting to cut off the catalytic converter of his neighbor’s vehicle.

Police said the resident called 911 and then yelled at the suspects to stop and that police were on their way. He also threw some objects at them, authorities said.

Before they fled, one of the suspects fired multiple gunshots at the resident but did not hit him. The suspects drove away in a dark colored SUV without getting the converter, police said.

Police are asking that anyone with information about the shooting or who might have security video footage that captured the suspects to contact the police property crimes unit at 510-981-5737.

Police said the violent confrontation is a “definite reminder that the people who commit crimes like these may be armed and willing to commit violence. If you witness an in-progress crime, do not hesitate to dial 911 and remain in the safest place available.”

Police are investigating whether the suspects might be involved in other catalytic converter thefts in Berkeley as well as other cities.

On Tuesday morning about 4:05 a.m. 60-year-old Arturo Coronado was fatally shot outside his home in the 4000 block of Everett Avenue in Oakland’s Glenview district by catalytic converter thieves, police said. The suspects fled in a car and no arrests have been made in the case.