Catalytic converter theft surges in Harris County, bond sparks outrage
A $2,500 bond for Guadalupe Gomez angered critics as Harris County thefts rise again and officials warn the county could double last year’s catalytic converter cases.
A Harris County judge set a $2,500 bond for 26-year-old Guadalupe Gomez after she was accused of stealing catalytic converters on June 20, a decision that drew sharp criticism because prosecutors had asked for $35,000. The low bond landed as county officials warned that thefts are climbing fast enough to potentially reach twice last year’s total if the current pace holds.
The precious metals inside catalytic converters have become more valuable, and the devices can be cut off quickly and sold for scrap. That has kept the crime focused on neighborhoods, apartment lots, business parking areas and fleet yards across Harris County, where one theft can leave a driver facing a repair bill and a vehicle that cannot be used until parts arrive. Texas lawmakers tried to clamp down in 2021 with House Bill 4110 and related changes that made stealing, buying or selling stolen catalytic converters a felony and added requirements for metal recyclers. A separate offense for unauthorized possession of a removed catalytic converter was later added under Texas Penal Code Section 31.21.
24-year-old Donald Mitchell was Gomez’s co-accused and had been a Harris County fugitive for more than a year before the current case. Mitchell previously received probation sentences in Rusk County and Harris County, drawing criticism from Crime Stoppers of Houston representative Andy Kahan over repeat offenders cycling through the system.
The theft trend is hardly new to Houston. Houston police logged more than 1,700 catalytic converter thefts in 2020, and ABC13 Houston put the March 2022 figure at more than 1,200 incidents. By May 5, 2026, Houston police said at least 508 catalytic converter thefts had already been reported citywide, surpassing annual totals from each of the previous two years. Police also said the worst wave had eased after precious-metal prices dropped and enforcement improved, though thefts were rising slightly again. National Insurance Crime Bureau data put U.S. insurance claims tied to catalytic converter theft at 16,660 in 2020 and 64,701 in 2022.
This article was produced by Prism’s automated news system from verified source data, official records, and press releases, then run through automated quality and moderation checks before publishing. The system is built and supervised by the people who set the standards it runs under. Read our full AI policy.
Did this article answer your question?
