Man accused of stealing catalytic converters from cars in Glendale

Man accused of stealing multiple catalytic converters in Glendale

GLENDALE, Ariz. - Glendale police have arrested a man accused of stealing catalytic converters from cars around the Valley while driving an SUV with an unusual camouflage paint job.

Spencer Okeefe, 27, now faces burglary charges after a catalytic converter was cut from a Kia SUV parked outside of a Glendale rehab center back in July.

Security footage outside of the facility reportedly showed a "suspicious" BMW SUV with a spray-painted camouflage paint job loitering in the parking lot.

Police tracked down the vehicle on Aug. 4 and began surveillance on the driver, identified as Okeefe. Detectives say they saw him driving randomly and stopping in different parking lots across the Phoenix metro area.

Spencer Okeefe

The next day, a Glendale detective entered an apartment parking lot that the BMW SUV had just exited from and discovered that a catalytic converter had been cut from a nearby Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Okeefe was eventually arrested at a motel, where officers reportedly discovered a metal cutting tool and the catalytic converter from the Jeep in his backpack.

He later admitted to police that he was stealing and selling the converters in order to support a fentanyl habit.

Okeefe was booked into Maricopa County Jail. Anyone with information about any other crimes involving the camouflage-colored SUV is asked to contact Silent Witness or Glendale Police at 623-930-3000.