A man from Aurora is being charged with stealing catalytic converters.
44-year-old Ronald Morris was charged with five felony counts of stealing.
Police officers in Republic responded to a Walmart in July of this year and found Morris in possession of a catalytic converter that was found to be stolen later.
Two weeks later, officers responded to a Sawyer Road in Republic for a report of multiple catalytic converter thefts and investigators determined Morris had stolen those auto parts as well.
Press Release:
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson announces that Ronald Neal Willis, 44, of Aurora, Missouri has been charged with five counts of felony stealing of catalytic converters.
On July 1, 2021, Republic Police officers were dispatched to Walmart. Officers found Ronald Willis in possession of a catalytic converter. That converter was later determined to be stolen. On July 15, 2021 Officers responded to Sawyer Road in Republic for a report of a past theft of catalytic converters. Detectives from the Republic Police Department were later able to determine that the defendant had stolen those converters the night before.
It takes only minutes, sometimes less than a minute to completely remove a catalytic converter. Repairs are often in the thousands of dollars and disable the vehicle until such repairs are carried out. To protect your vehicle, park in a secured garage or well-lit area.
Mr. Patterson cautions that the charges contained in the felony complaint are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
