Last night, around 11:40 pm, while deputies were on routine patrol they noticed an unoccupied red Ford F-150 truck in the 300 block of Old York Hampton Highway. The vehicle was parked hidden in the back with the windows down, keys in the ignition, and the radio playing. The vehicle also contained tools that would be used to steal catalytic converters. A suspect was located hiding near the vehicle. The diligent work of our deputies and investigators led to the arrest of John Matthew Gigante, a 39-year-old white male who resides in Newport News. Gigante was arrested for two counts of Grand Larceny of catalytic converters and one count of Petit Larceny of tools. The thefts were from the Industrial Park on Old York Hampton Highway. Additional charges may be pending. Gigante was transported to the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail on 3/26/21 at approximately 6:30 am. If you have any additional information in reference to this case please call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP or our FB Tip Line at (757) 890-4999. Case # 2100917 The theft of catalytic converters has soared nationwide and our area has been no exception. YPSO has had 54 reports for the stolen part over the past year. Most have been stolen from box trucks or cargo-style vans. A catalytic converter is an antipollution device that can be stolen in a matter of minutes and sold to scrap metal dealers because of the precious metals it contains. Sheriff Diggs offers the following tips to keep your vehicle safe from this crime: • Park your vehicle in a secure garage • If you don't have a garage, park in areas easily seen by passers-by • Park in well-lit areas • If possible, park near security cameras • Install motion-sensing lights in your driveway • Consider purchasing a catalytic converter protection device (costs less than $200 for the device but to replace a converter could be in excess of $2,000) ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌