LOS ANGELES — Five people were arrested Thursday after local and state law enforcement officials discovered about 2,400 catalytic converters they say are linked to a theft ring.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department announced Friday that it worked with several assisting agencies to serve search warrants across Orange and L.A. counties. Two of the department's units spent three months investigating links among a series of catalytic converter thefts.

Thieves target catalytic converters, part of a vehicle's exhaust system, because vehicle manufacturers use precious metals to produce them. Catalytic converters made with precious metals palladium, platinum and rhodium are especially targeted, according to the Justice Department.

Orange County officials estimate the value of the recovered catalytic converters is around $4.3 million.

Officers also found several large shipping boxes containing precious metals, two unregistered firearms, and more than $105,000 in cash, according to the sheriff's department.

Those arrested on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime were identified by the Orange County Sheriff's Department as: Jorge Alberto Delgadillo, 35, of Maywood; Julio Moreno Reyes, 40, of L.A.; Gilberto Valdovino, 27, of L.A.; Brayan Cruz De Leon, 20, of L.A.; and Hugo Saenz Marin, 24, of Compton.

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