Wilmington man charged in car-parts thefts

After commuters in four states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey, left their vehicles at park and ride lots or train stations, thieves stole the cars' catalytic converters, took them to Delaware, then sold parts to scrap yards in Philadelphia to fuel heroin habits, authorities say.

The U.S. Attorney's Office announced charges Thursday against James "Cat Man Jim" Sepulveda, 31, of Wilmington. If convicted, Sepulveda faces a maximum of 45 years in prison for a list of offenses that includes conspiracy and interstate transportation of stolen property.

Sepulveda is accused of conspiring with others, not yet identified by authorities, between Jan. 20 and June 22. The alleged thieves cut more than 100 catalytic converters from cars in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, getting away with materials worth more than $23,000, court records said.

Court records said Sepulveda generally used a power saw to cut the converters from the vehicles' exhaust systems while an accomplice served as a lookout. Sepulveda and others "used the proceeds from the stolen catalytic converters to buy heroin and other items," court records said.

Police in Chester County said that authorities throughout the region had been investigating the thefts and that the break in the case occurred when Sepulveda was pulled over for a routine traffic stop in Westtown Township, where detectives had been working with investigators from West Goshen Township.

A search warrant for Sepulveda's vehicle uncovered evidence linking him to the thefts, police said. The investigation is continuing, and more arrests are expected, police said.