Butler police today charged a city man with stealing a neighbor’s catalytic converter last week.

John D. Dunmyre, 27, admitted that on Friday he cut the emissions control system part from a car parked outside in back of the owner’s house in the 100 block of Third Avenue, according to court documents.

City police arrested Dunmyre shortly after he showed at Greco Materials Recycling on Kittanning Street to sell the converter.

An employee at the business notified authorities that Dunmyre came in but they did not buy the part because he did not have identification. Police were told that he drove away in a white Chevy

Officers a short time later stopped Dunmyre’s car on a convenience store on East Jefferson Street.

He is charged with a first-degree misdemeanor count of theft for allegedly the converter, valued at $300.

Police said they continue to investigate at least one other recent catalytic converter in the city. That device was stolen April 6 from a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck at Denny Offstein Auto Sales on Hazel Avenue in Butler’s Island neighborhood.

Investigators did not immediately say if they have any suspects in the case.

Several other police departments throughout the county also are investigating a rash of catalytic converter since later March.

The devices are connected to the vehicle’s exhaust system and contain precious metals that can be easily recycled for cash. Police say thieves are getting anywhere from $50 to $80 for each converter. It can cost up to $1,000 to replace a stolen converter.