A vehicle collided with a police car as officers investigated the theft of a catalytic converter SUSPECTED thieves crashed into a police car as officers responded to a call about the theft of a catalytic converter. Officers were called to Cavendish Road, Bournemouth to reports that a catalytic converter was being stolen from a parked Honda Jazz. Police attended at 10.45pm on Tuesday May 25 and a collision took place between the police vehicle and car suspected to be involved in the theft. The occupants fled and now police have appealed for information from the public. A search of the area was carried out, assisted by the NPAS helicopter, but the offenders were not found.
The victim, a 49-year-old man, returned home to find his window had been smashed and contacted police. Officers from the Witney Priority Crime Team attended with CSI, and located a blood stain at the point of entry. This blood stain contained DNA evidence that identified Butler as the offender. He was arrested the following month on April 21 in Northamptonshire for an unrelated incident. Investigating officer Detective Constable Laura Oakes of the Priority Crime Team (PCT) based at Witney police station, said: “Butler thought he had got away with this offence, but left crucial evidence at the scene which identified him as the offender.