Chicago man busted trying to steal catalytic converter from car in Union City, authorities say

A Chicago man was busted for trying to steal a catalytic converter from a car in Union City last week, getting arrested by the North Hudson Catalytic Converter Task Force, authorities said.

By John Heinis/Hudson County View

Deonte Weekley, 27, of Chicago, Illinois, has been charged with criminal attempt to
commit theft, conspiracy to commit theft, obstruction, resisting arrest, and possession of
burglary tools, according to Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez.

At approximately 2:17 a.m. on July 30th, plainclothes detectives from the North Hudson Catalytic Converter Task Force – which includes the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, along with the Union City, North Bergen, Weehawken, and West New York Police Departments – observed a 2006 gray colored Infiniti M35X bearing New Jersey temporary registration tags parked blocking a driveway on the 3700 block of Hudson Avenue in Union City.

The vehicle’s trunk was open and two unidentified men were observed exiting the vehicle and running southbound on Hudson Avenue. The vehicle was left with the engine running and the trunk open and plainclothes detectives pursued the individuals on foot.

Upon checking the area, detectives observed a 2007 Gray Mitsubishi Outlander parked
immediately south of the Infiniti and an aluminum/steel car floor jack (mechanical lifting device) was observed under the Outlander and the Outlander’s front left passenger side was lifted off the floor by the floor jack.

Also in close proximity to the floor jack, detectives located a sawzall on the sidewalk.

Task force detectives subsequently located Weekley hiding under a tarp on the property of a daycare located at 118 37Th Street and he was taken into custody without incident. The other suspect remains at large.

The investigation into the rash of catalytic convertor thefts is ongoing.

Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutors Office, Union City, North Bergen, Weehawken, and West New York Police Departments, and the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, with the investigation and arrests.