There has been an ongoing problem with catalytic converters being stolen from vehicles in the East Valley and now the Chandler Police Department has made an arrest of three armed suspects.
On Monday, Chandler Police announced the arrest of the three suspects "from Phoenix after an armed robbery involving a catalytic converter theft crime spree."
At 6:15 a.m. on Feb. 22, Chandler Police were dispatched to the 500 block of North Chippewa Drive after a victim interrupted the three armed suspects stealing a catalytic converter from his vehicle. The suspects pointed a gun at the victim before fleeing the area in a black BMW.
As officers arrived in the area, the BMW was located by police driving eastbound on Chandler Boulevard. Police attempted a traffic stop, but the BMW failed to stop and proceeded eastbound on Chandler Boulevard.
Upon arriving at Gilbert Road, the suspects abandoned the BMW in a commercial parking lot. With the description from the victim, police searched local businesses and located and arrested the three suspects. Police found a firearm, 10 catalytic converters and a battery-operated saw inside the BMW.
The investigation determined the three suspects - identified as Robert Canez, Jesus Banuelos and Tevon Kroncke - were in the process of stealing a catalytic converter from a truck when the victim confronted them. They fled the area after pointing a firearm equipped with a laser light at the victim.
Chandler Police connected Canez, Banuelos and Kroncke to two other catalytic converter thefts that occurred on Feb. 27 in Chandler.
Canez, Banuelos and Kroncke were booked into the Maricopa County Jail on armed robbery, a class two felony, and third degree burglary, a class four felony. Canez was driving the BMW and therefore was also booked into jail on unlawful flight from law enforcement, a class five felony. Banuelos had fentanyl in his possession and was also booked on possession of narcotic drug, a class four felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a class six felony.
Chandler Police continue to investigate all three suspects for multiple catalytic converter thefts around the East Valley. They have been educating the public and working with other agencies. As a result, they have arrested nine individuals connected to catalytic converter thefts in the past 30 days.
