(KLZA)--Six individuals are facing charges in connection with a series of thefts that occurred in Falls City and rural Richardson County from early October through December 8, 2022.

A news release from the Richardson County Sheriff's Office indicates the cases resulted in 24 arrest warrants for six individuals and required numerous interviews and hundreds of hours on invetigation with more than 600 pages of documentation.

Through the investigation a group was identifed that primarily targeted catalytic converters and pickups. It is alleged the group committed numerous thefts around northwest Missouri, in addition to Richardson and Nemaha counties in southeast Nebraska.

The group allegedly cut off and stole at least 18 catalytic converters in and around Falls City. They also are accused with the theft of three trucks, two of which were from Richardson County. The estimated total for the stolen trucks and catalytic converters was $153,261.

The cost to one victim of these crimes was more than $20 thousand to replace catalytic converters on their vehicles. All three vehicles have been recovered.

The stolen items included approximately $190,464 in vehicles and tools; a 2018 Chevrolet 2500 stolen on October 4, 2022, recovered in Kansas City, Missouri. A 2011 Dodge Ram stolen October 28, 2022 and recovered in St. Joseph and a 2012 Dodge Ram and tools reocvered in Craig, Missouri.

The catalytic converters stolen were estimated at $43,797.

Arrested was David Sprague Jr. who is in custody in Buchanan County, Missouri. Sprague is facing nine felony charges and several misdemeanor charges.

Jessica Beltz who is jailed in Richardson County. Beltz is facing four felony counts and two misdemeanors

Scott Robinson is in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections is facing two felony counts and two misdemeanor charges.

Lucifer Jones is in custody in Buchanan County, Missouri. He is charged with four felony counts and a misdemeanor.

Chase Engel is in custody in Richardson County, charged with the felony theft of a truck.

A sixth individual, currently not in custody, is facing two felony counts and a misdemeanor.

Catalytic converters have proven to be reliable and effective in reducing noxious tailpipe emissions.

Because of the external location and the use of valuable precious metals, catalytic converters are a target for thieves.

The problem is especially common among late-model pickup trucks and truck-based SUVs, because of their high ground clearance and easily removed bolt-on catalytic converters. Welded-on converters are also at risk of theft, as they can be easily cut off.

The Richardson County Sheriff's Office thanked the citizens that assisted with the case as well as the St. Joseph Police Department; Nemaha County, Nebraska Sheriffs' Office; Holt County, Missouri Sheriff's Office; Kansas City Missouri Police Department; and the Lincoln Police Department Forensic Identification Unit for their cooperation in the cases.