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California ID leads to parolee’s arrest in Sacramento County catalytic converter theft

An identification card found at the scene of a catalytic converter theft last week in Sacramento County led to the arrest of a parolee on theft and vandalism charges, sheriff’s officials said.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 21, a resident reported the catalytic converter on his vehicle had been stolen earlier that morning. The caller told dispatchers that he found a California ID card and part of a reciprocating saw blade under his vehicle, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday evening in a news release.

Sheriff’s officials said the ID card belonged to Timothy Andrew Eccel, 34, of Sacramento County. Investigators determined that Eccel was on parole until 2023 after serving a six-year prison sentence on a first-degree burglary conviction.

Since Eccel is on parole, he and his property can be searched by law enforcement at any time. Sheriff’s detectives and deputies went to Eccel’s home, detained him and conducted a parole search, they said.

The investigators found a reciprocating saw on the front passenger seat of Eccel’s vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office. They also found attached to the saw a blade that was the same size, shape and color as the one found under the victim’s vehicle, officials said.

Detectives also found on Eccel’s bed a laptop computer with markings indicating it belonged to the San Juan Unified School District, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Neither Eccel nor anyone at the home is associated with the school district..

Eccel was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, vandalism, possession of burglary tools and violating parole, officials said. Eccel was booked at the Sacramento County Jail, where he remained in custody Wednesday night.