A quiet Bixby Knolls block turned into a crime scene before dawn Tuesday when a man trying to stop thieves from stealing a catalytic converter was shot in the upper body, police said.
The victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. The group of suspected thieves jumped back into their vehicle and drove off before officers got there, according to the Long Beach Post.
The shooting was reported just before 4:20 a.m. on Goldfield Avenue between 45th Street and San Antonio Drive. Police said the man was shot once after confronting the group. As of the initial report, detectives had no detailed suspect descriptions to release.
For neighbors, the crime lands on two fronts at once: chronic catalytic-converter thefts and the very real danger of trying to stop them. Long Beach police guidance urges residents not to approach suspects, to call 911 during a theft in progress, and to note vehicle details only if they can do so safely.
Why Catalytic Converters Keep Drawing Thieves
Catalytic converters are loaded with valuable metals, which makes them a fast, profitable target. Thieves can crawl under a car and cut one off in as little as one or two minutes.
For car owners, the aftermath is a lot more expensive. California's Bureau of Automotive Repair says a replacement can cost thousands of dollars, even though the stolen part might only net a thief hundreds at a recycler. The agency recommends shields, etching, alarms and parking in well-lit areas in its consumer guidance.
Long Beach police also advise residents to mark converters with a vehicle identification number or license plate number and to consider installing an anti-theft device. Those steps can help deter thieves or aid an investigation, but officers stress they are not a reason to turn a property crime into a face-to-face standoff.
As of the initial report, the group involved in the shooting was still at large and police were seeking more information about what happened. Anyone who sees a catalytic-converter theft in progress should move to safety and contact police instead of stepping in, according to Long Beach police guidance.
