Green Bay Man Arrested for Theft of Catalytic Converters

 

Green Bay, WI - As previously reported, police continue to investigate the thefts of catalytic converters in the area. While some suspects have been arrested, police are investigating more and more thefts.

Duell Pecha, 33, of Green Bay was arrested on an open warrant on August 18, 2021 on 4 counts of Removing Vehicle Parts without Consent.

Charges were initially filed in Brown County Circuit Court in February 2021.

The theft occurred back on December 4, 2020, but was not discovered until later in the month. A business owner on University Avenue called Green Bay Police to report the thefts.

The business owner stated there were 8 catalytic converters missing from various vehicles within their secure lot. He believed the suspect was a former employee, Duell Pecha.

Pecha was let go from the business on November 23, 2020.

Surveillance video from the evening of December 4 shows a vehicle resembling Pecha's "casing" the area behind the business.

When interviewed by police, Pecha said he knew officers would be coming to his home at some point to talk to him in regards to the thefts.

According to the criminal complaint, Duell told police the business owed him money, so he stole the catalytic converters as a way to get the money owed to him.

In a written statement, Pecha advised he used a gap in the fencing to gain access to the lot, and used a small battery saw to cut the converters off. He only admitted to taking 4 converters, stating one was junk, one was sold to a friend, and two were in a storage shed.

The loss to the business was estimated to be approximately $10,000.

Pecha is due in court 9/7/2021 for his Final Pre-Trial Hearing.