Surrey man charged after allegedly selling 400 stolen catalytic converters

A 50-year-old Surrey man has been charged after the Burnaby RCMP recovered more than 400 catalytic converters in an undercover operation this month.

Mounties say the majority of the 439 devices are believed to have been stolen and destined for shipment to the United States.

It was part of a larger investigation into the rising theft of catalytic converters in the city which began in March.

Police say the accused ran a mobile metal recycling business that salvaged vehicles and legitimately shipped the converters across the border in bulk.

However, police allege he was purchasing stolen catalytic converters and including them in the U.S.-bound shipments.

In a report released earlier this year, ICBC shared that catalytic converter thefts resulted in approximately $8.2 million worth of insurance claims in B.C. in just seven months last year.

Jasvindar Singh is facing two charges relating to attempting to traffic and possess property obtained by crime.