Major Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Busted By Bucks County Detectives.
Alex Lloyd Gross
by Alex Lloyd Gross
June 27, 2023
They are scumbags. They are the type of people that you hope to read about in the obituary section of the newspaper. Just a slight nudge above child molesters and animal abusers. They are catalytic converter thieves. These thieves ride around with saws in their vehicles and when they come across a vehicle that meets the specs they are looking for, they cut off the catalytic converter with the electric saw in their vehicle. The victim is stuck paying thousands to get it replaced.
In order for a thief to be successful they need a person to buy the stolen goods. In this case, detectives say that source was TDI Towing from 2335 Wheatsheaf Lane in Philadelphia. They were allegedly paying up to $10 grand a day for people that walked in with catalytic converters. They dealt in cash. It is doubtful that they or the people that received the money reported this money to the IRS.
The people that allegedly cut the converters from cars included Michael Evangelist, 35, of Philadelphia; Anthony Davalos Sr., 43, of Philadelphia; Richard Allan Page, 39, of Warminster; and Gary Shirley, 48, of Hatboro, police said..
This investigation found that TDI Towing had been in the business of buying catalytic converters for at least three years, and during that time they bought an average of 175 catalytic converters a week, or 27,300 during those three years. TDI employees paid an average of $300 per catalytic converter, for a total of nearly $8.2 million during the three years.
The investigation found that TDI Towing was operated by Michael Williams, 52, of Philadelphia. Most of the organization had some family connection to him. Employees at the tow yard included his sister-in-law Lisa Davalos, 47, of Philadelphia; Eric Simpson, 41, of Philadelphia; Michael Bruce, 30, of Sewell, N.J.; Kevin Schwartz, 33, of Philadelphia; Patrick Hopkins, 24, of Philadelphia; and a 17-year-old-juvenile. Every week, and sometimes more than once a week, Williams would take the catalytic converters from TDI Towing for resale and profit at another location, the investigation found. He took about 50 catalytic converters per trip.
The FBI has been notified and could possibly charge TDI under Federal RICO or other federal statures, ensuring this place gets put out of business.
This investigation went to The Bucks County 20th Investigating Grand Jury , which recommended charges of corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related charges against most of the organization. Those charges were approved by Supervising Judge Raymond F. McHugh.
The nearly yearlong investigation, led by Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, resulted in the charging of a Philadelphia tow yard, along with 10 adult individuals and one juvenile. Three dozen local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Bucks County, Montgomery County, Delaware County, Philadelphia, and New Jersey took part in this collaborative investigation.
Taking a catalytic converter is a process that lasts about a minute. Sometimes a vehicle owner catches them in the act and at times “cutters” have been shot or maimed in the process by vehicle owners. A vehicle owner in Southampton opened the skull of a thief with a baseball bat when they were caught in the act You can read that story here.
Bucks County Detectives are attempting to locate Richard Allan Page. If anyone has seen him, please contact Bucks County Detectives at 215.348.6354 or www.bucksda.org.
