ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Two men have been arrested after they were accused of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles at a hotel parking lot at Universal, according to Orlando police.
Police said on Sunday morning several vehicles were targeted at Universal’s Dockside Inn and Suites.
[TRENDING: These senior citizens gave their best Valentine’s Day advice | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Investigators said they were able to determine the suspect vehicle’s description and find it at a Motel 6 in the area.
Officers said through various investigative methods detectives obtained a search warrant for the hotel room where the suspects were found.
Authorities said once they detained the suspects, investigators learned they were in town from Texas and were only in Orlando to steal catalytic converters.
Jose Antonio Martinez, 19, is facing two counts of grand theft and two counts of criminal mischief.
Terance Elder,19, is facing two counts of grand theft and two counts of criminal mischief.
Police found 31 stolen catalytic converters in the hotel room. Martinez has bonded out of jail and Elder was granted a pretrial supervised release.
Investigators said surveillance video from Universal’s Dockside Inn and Suites showed just how fast the suspects were able to remove a catalytic converter from a car.
“It only takes a couple of seconds, or a couple of minutes, to get these catalytic converter’s off and to move onto the next car,” Detective Matthew Andrew said.
Police believe the two suspects were a part of a larger ring in Texas.
To combat the recent rise in converter thefts, Andrews said police have increased their unmarked car work, and are doing more surveillance work in specific parking lots.
There are devices people can buy to help secure their catalytic converters and make them more difficult to steal.