6 Catalytic Converters Stolen Oak Creek Park And Ride In 1 Day

OAK CREEK, WI — Several travelers from around the Milwaukee area who parked at the Oak Creek Park and Ride were greeted to an unpleasant surprise on the night of July 23, after learning that the catalytic converters had been cut out from underneath their vehicles.

According to police in Oak Creek, several motorists who parked their cars there either called the authorities or drove east to the local police station to report much the same thing: they parked their vehicle at the Park and Ride during the day. By nightfall, they were greeted by a loud roaring sound as they started their cars, and immediately knew something was amiss.

Here is the rundown of the six police calls that came in related to the Park and Ride on July 23. Police report they are investigating the incidents.

4:26 p.m. Oak Creek police speak with a 34-year-old Milwaukee man who said that the catalytic converter was cutoff his vehicle at the Ryan Road Park and Ride. The vehicle owner told police that he parked his car to head to Illinois at about noon. When he came back, he realized his catalytic converter had been stolen while he was away.

4:35 p.m. Police in Oak Creek say a 32-year-old Grafton man had his catalytic converter cut off his white Chevy van. The vehicle owner told police he parked his car at the park and ride just before noon. The damage was estimated between $1,500 and $2,000 police said.

5:04 p.m. Police took a third report of a catalytic converter theft at the Oak Creek Park and Ride. The owner of this vehicle said he parked his car at the park and ride that morning in order to head to a job site. When he got back, the catalytic converter had been cut out from under the vehicle, police said.

5:12 p.m. Police talked with a 66-year-old Oak Creek woman who said her catalytic converter had been cut out from her vehicle at roughly the same time. Police said the woman parked her car at the park and ride just before 7 a.m. and returned near 5 p.m.

6:05 p.m. A 32-year-old Evanston man walked into the police department in Oak Creek to report another catalytic converter theft at the Oak Creek Park and Ride. The vehicle owner said he got off work, started his vehicle and noticed it was much louder than normal. When he looked under the car, he said the catalytic converter was gone.

7:45 p.m. Another catalytic converter was reported stolen after a 28-year-old Greendale woman called police to inform them of the Oak Creek Park and Ride's latest incident. Police said the woman parked her car at the park and ride just before 3 p.m. When she returned at 5:15 p.m., the car was much louder than normal.