Tampa police shut down small business getting in stolen catalytic converters

TAMPA — As the variety of stolen catalytic converters continues to increase nationwide, Tampa Police say they’ve shut down a nearby business that had taken in about $500,000 value of the coveted vehicle section.

Denis Redzic, 29, and Zijad Nuhanovic, 33, face rates of violation of secondary metals recyclers polices and for working as an unregistered secondary metals recycler — both equally of which are felonies.

The duo worked for Armando Recycling, an unlicensed organization that operated just east of Ybor City at 4101 E. 12th Avenue.

Law enforcement reported they commenced a surveillance procedure of Armando Recycling following obtaining an anonymous idea.

Catalytic converters are sought by robbers simply because they’re pretty straightforward to get, in accordance to the marketplace publication, Auto and Driver. They assortment in price from $50 to a pair of hundred dollars every single. But demand from customers for the converters in other international locations has brought about the rates of the metals inside of the element, like palladium and rhodium, to skyrocket, according to the New York Occasions. Two of the 3 uncommon earth metals applied in catalytic converters are worth more for each ounce than gold.

In get for a recycling small business to legally acquire catalytic converters, the seller should be in a position to establish that it lawfully belongs to them, with only some slight exceptions. That’s a little something Armando Recyclers didn’t have to have sellers to do, law enforcement explained.

Redzic and Nuhanovic were being arrested Tuesday, data demonstrate. The two were being produced just after they every single posted a $4,000 bail.

In a statement, Tampa Law enforcement issued a warning to both robbers and purchasers of catalytic converters:

“Detectives are sending a solid concept to individuals small business owners who select to operate illegally, as perfectly as the criminals who are stealing and providing: You will be caught, and you will be charged.”