Baldt

ROSS TWP, Allegheny County — The Mars man who was arrested Thursday in connection with a rash of catalytic converter thefts throughout the North Hills also is suspected of numerous thefts in Butler County.

Taylor Baldt, 27, is charged with a felony count of theft by unlawful taking and two felony counts of receiving stolen property.

Detective Brian Kohlhepp of the Ross Police Department said police consider Baldt a suspect connected to 30 to 50 thefts in North Hills. Baldt also admitted to stealing “a bunch of converters in Butler County,” according to Kohlhepp.

Baldt was arraigned and placed in Allegheny County Jail on $3,000 bail.

Kohlhepp said Baldt acted alone, using a portable battery saw to steal the converters, which he then sold for $50 to $75 apiece to different scrap dealers.

Police said his motive was drug related.

Baldt was arrested after Ohio Township Police alerted other communities to reported thefts Thursday involving a white Ford F150 pickup truck. That vehicle had been considered as a suspect vehicle in previous investigations of thefts in Ross Township, police said.

A Ross police officer was patrolling the area of the park and ride on Perrysville Avenue when he saw that pickup leave the parking lot. The truck was stopped, and the Baldt was arrested.

Police believe Baldt stole two more catalytic converters in the park and ride lot.

A catalytic converter is an important part of the exhaust system that is found in front of the vehicle’s muffler. It reduces the amount of toxic chemicals released from the engine.