Vehicle falls on man, killing him while he tried to steal part, police believe

 Authorities in Chatham County, Georgia, believe that a man was killed while attempting to steal a catalytic converter.

According to the Chatham County Police Department, the evidence suggests that the individual who was discovered dead under a vehicle had been unlawfully removing the part when the vehicle fell on him.

"Chatham County Police Department detectives believe an accidental death that occurred on Tuesday at a local business was the result of an attempted catalytic converter theft," the police department noted in a Facebook post.

"Chatham County Police Department officers were called to Prestige Auto Sales at 4513 Ogeechee Road around 9:15 a.m. on March 7, 2023, after a deceased adult male was found under a vehicle in the car lot. Evidence at the scene indicates that the man was killed while he was illegally removing a catalytic converter from the vehicle, and the vehicle fell on top of him. The deceased was identified as 32-year-old Matthew Eric Smith," the post states. "In 2022, 39 catalytic converters were stolen in 24 separate incidents in unincorporated Chatham County."

The man had been arrested over 12 times, police records indicate, according to WSAV.

WTOC reported that the incident occurred at South Bound Auto Sales. Owner Mike Abouharb's message to those who would steal from a business is that they should "get a job. Do something. And stop stealing." He added, "We work very hard for what we get."

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