Seattle man facing felony charges for catalytic converter thefts

The defendant’s arraignment is scheduled for July 21.

By Hannah Saunders • July 14, 2022 1:30 am
During a search of the defendant’s car, BPD detectives located one saw, six blades and gloves matching the ones he was seen wearing in video surveillance. Courtesy of Bellevue Police Department. During a search of the defendant’s car, BPD detectives located one saw, six blades and gloves matching the ones he was seen wearing in video surveillance. Courtesy of Bellevue Police Department.
During a search of the defendant’s car, BPD detectives located one saw, six blades and gloves matching the ones he was seen wearing in video surveillance. Courtesy of Bellevue Police Department. During a search of the defendant’s car, BPD detectives located one saw, six blades and gloves matching the ones he was seen wearing in video surveillance. Courtesy of Bellevue Police Department.

A 22-year-old Seattle man is facing felony charges after allegedly stealing catalytic converters over the span of five months, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO).

Dan Pham is charged with three counts of second-degree felony theft, with possible additional charges. Pham’s arraignment hearing is at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21.

The charges stem from catalytic converter thefts which took place from December 2021 until May of this year in the city of Bellevue. According to the charging documents, Pham was observed on video surveillance driving an Audi — which was registered to him — next to vehicles that experienced catalytic converter theft.

Witnesses to the theft identified the suspect with descriptions matching Pham, and cellphone data obtained through a search warrant allegedly recorded Pham in close proximity to all three thefts during the time the thefts occurred, documents state.

KCPAO requests Pham’s bail be set to $25,000 due to the unlikelihood of the defendant appearing for court, and due to the likelihood of the defendant interfering with witnesses and the administration of justice, the charging documents stated.

“Bail is necessary on this case as the defendant is a prolific catalytic converter theft offender who confessed to routinely stealing catalytic converters to sell on Facebook Marketplace,” according to the documents.

Law enforcement has connected Pham to other catalytic converter thefts in the area, stated he reportedly commits these thefts in order to support himself.

According to KCPAO, Pham has a pending bench warrant for $2,600 due to failing to appear for court in a pending criminal trespass case in Kent Municipal Court.