Four men face charges in Lexington County for their roles in the thefts of catalytic converters from vehicles.
Twenty-four-year-old Almin Alen Jahic of Lawrenceville, Ga. and 21-year-old Patrick Geovanny Garcia Lagos of Atlanta, Ga. are accused of breaking into 11 vehicles at a Gaston business over the weekend to steal catalytic converters. Authorities say Jahic and Lagos caused about $16,000 in damage at Copart Auto Auctions. Jahic and Lagos left three piles of catalytic converters at the business that had been freshly cut off vehicles. Authorities say Jahic and Lagos drove up from Georgia on Sunday and planned to return to Georgia and sell the stolen catalytic converters.
Jahic and Lagos were charged with tampering with motor vehicles, possessing burglary tools and criminal conspiracy. Jahic and Lagos each were being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on bail totaling $95,000.
During a separate investigation, 26-year-old Sherwood Carl Helmick Jr. of Barnwell and 35-year-old Jimmy Dean Williams of Barnwell were arrested for tampering with a car parked at a West Columbia medical center. Authorities say the men were trying to steal the car’s catalytic converter. Helmick and Williams also had a catalytic converter stolen from vehicle that was left alongside the interstate.
The two are charged with breaking into a motor vehicle, receiving stolen goods and petit larceny. Helmick and Williams each were being held at the county Detention Center on bail totaling $17,025.