Charges were filed this week against a Schuylkill County woman after she was allegedly caught cutting a catalytic converter off a vehicle in Girardville last year.
State Police say they were dispatched to a residence on B St. at about 2 p.m. on Aug. 29 after the vehicle’s owners reported finding a woman cutting the car part from their red Ford Escape.
According to police, one of the vehicle’s owners was cleaning a garage when they heard a noise. The owner went outside and discovered a woman, later identified as Katherine Mock, 46, of Girardville, underneath the vehicle with a reciprocating saw. Police say the converter had been cut through but was still attached. The owners informed Mock the vehicle belonged to them, at which point she stopped, police say.
The vehicle at the time police arrived was being lifted by a trolley jack. A reciprocating saw connected to an extension cord that ran to a neighboring property was located near the front of the vehicle, police say.
Mock told police that a Gene Klinger claimed the vehicle belonged to his cousin. According to police, Mock said Klinger attempted to remove the converter the previous day to take to a junkyard but could not fit underneath the car. Police say Mock claimed Klinger drew two white lines on the converter to show her where to cut and asked her to remove it.
Police observed the two white lines and saw marks on the catalytic converter.
The victims later provided police with a repair estimate totaling $2,459.71 and an estimated value of the catalytic converter at $1,104.29.
Mock has been charged with a felony count of theft of a catalytic converter and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.
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