Thieves don’t need your keys to steal something valuable from your car.
A catalytic converter—the emissions-control device in your exhaust system—can be stolen in minutes. Here are five ways to make your vehicle harder to target:
Put a barrier in their way.
Ask a reputable repair shop about a catalytic converter shield, cage, or security device designed for your vehicle. These add an obstacle to removal, but no device makes a converter theft-proof.
Find out what actually triggers your alarm.
Ask your dealer or installer whether your alarm detects the vehicle being lifted or disturbed underneath. A tilt sensor or suitable vibration sensor may provide protection your current setup doesn’t.
Make your next oil change a prevention opportunity.
While your vehicle is on the lift, ask whether the shop can mark the converter with your vehicle identification number or install a purpose-made identification kit. Have the shop photograph the marking, and complete any required registration. Identification can help police link a recovered converter to your vehicle; it cannot physically stop removal.
Check what your camera can actually see.
Look at the live view after dark. Does it cover your parked vehicle and the approach to it? Check motion-detection zones and notifications, and consider motion-activated lighting. A camera aimed at the front door may miss activity in the driveway.
Plan for the hours your vehicle sits unattended.
At work, apartment complexes, or long-term parking lots, choose visible spaces with regular activity and camera coverage when available. Ask property managers about dark areas, broken gates, or cameras that don’t cover parking spaces.
Suspect a theft in progress? Call 911. Stay somewhere safe and do not confront or follow anyone. Give dispatch the location and any descriptions you can safely observe.
Save this post for your next service appointment.
Antioch Police Department – Service • Integrity • Community
Both believed to be homeless; U.S. Coast Guard, Con Fire, Contra Costa County Sheriff Air Support Unit assist
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, Calif. – On September 23, 2026, at 6:12 p.m., Antioch Police Department officers responded to a report of two adult women in distress and drowning in the water near the rear of Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill restaurant by the Antioch Marina.
Upon arrival, Officer Molina immediately entered the water aboard a personal watercraft (jet ski) and successfully reached and rescued one of the women, who had been caught in the strong current.
Screenshot of Con Fire incident report of Water Rescue in Antioch Wednesday night. Source: PulsePoint
A coordinated, multi-agency search was immediately initiated for the second 54-year-old woman. The United States Coast Guard, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CONFIRE), and Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit assisted with extensive water and aerial searches of the area. As of this time, the second woman has not been located.
The preliminary investigation indicates no foul play is suspected. The two women were swimming when they were caught in the strong current. We are in the process of confirming the identity of the missing swimmer.
According to a video message by local homeless advocate Nichole Gardner posted on the Homelessness in Antioch & Community Connection Facebook page, the one rescued is named Farrah and the woman missing is named Lynn. “Our friend, Farrah is one of the women who fell in and they found her. But they could not find our friend, Lynn. We were out there at 6:30 when all of this was going on.”
When asked for the women’s ages, Lt. Franco said, “The information is preliminary for now. We expect to update the information later. I believe the one who is missing is 54 years old. But we need to interview the woman who was rescued.”
Asked if they are homeless, he said, “That’s our understanding and what people are saying.”
9/24/26 UPDATE 1: According to a KTVU FOX2 news report, “The woman who was rescued was identified by a friend as Farrah Moore. She was transported to the hospital for her injuries. Moore’s friend said she is OK and suffered a cut to her leg” and the identity of the missing swimmer is “46-year-old Edgielyn Torrente.”
Antioch resident Jeff Lewis assists Officer Molina on a jet ski in the search. Video screenshots source: Antioch PD
9/25/26 UPDATE 2: According to his mother, Judy Dossey, “The private citizen on scene who was operating the jet ski is Jeff Lewis, an Antioch resident. Mr. Lewis also assisted in the rescue of the swimmer in distress.”
Asked for any updates regarding locating the missing woman Captain Gary Lowther responded, “the status of the outstanding citizen is unknown.”
The Antioch Police Department thanks the United States Coast Guard, CONFIRE, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office for their rapid response and continued assistance with the search.
Additional updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department. Case No.: 26-9135
Wants it to include broader option of other parts of city
By Allen D. Payton
Following meetings held with downtown business owners and community members regarding hours of operation, patrol locations, scope of services and other identified needs and issues, during their meeting on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, the Antioch City Council discussed restoring private security services to the City-owned parking lots in downtown Rivertown. But the discussion expanded to other issues and possible broader private security services throughout the city.
First approved by the Council in 2023, according to the city staff report, the contract with Brentwood-based Shield Protection & Public Safety, Inc., DBA Spearhead Protection, for private security services of City-owned assets and parking lots in the Rivertown area was for an amount not to exceed $50,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 (ending June 30th) and $100,000 in fiscal year 2024-25. It was renewed for the 2025-26 fiscal year and the private security contract ended on June 30th.
Under Item 6, on the agenda, the Council was asked to discuss downtown security services for City owned parking lots, property and public areas, and provide direction to staff on whether to initiate a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process for private security services in the Rivertown/Downtown area.
Mayor Pro Tem and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas was the first council member to speak saying, “Frankly, this issue came to us from the Downtown Antioch Association. Because…there have been more and more reports since the security has stopped. We began asking a lot of questions…and all of us received input from the DAA and Chamber of Commerce.”
“They complimented the police department and some of the crime prevention efforts,” he continued. “But crime has risen since the services have stopped.”
“Clearly the hours from their perspective, about 30 people were in attendance and 60% said they wanted different hours,” Freitas said. “There are a lot of issues that came out of this. Conceptually, yes, I believe services should be provided. But I don’t know what should be provided. There are a lot of options: Hours of operation. There are businesses that were under contract but did not perform.”
Acting City Manager Ana Cortez responded saying, “What I’m seeking tonight is direction. Does Council want to continue with private security services? If yes, we’d have to proceed with a request for proposal process, since the previous contract ended. We would put all the input into a scope of services.”
“Private security services represent one aspect,” Freitas continued. “The lighting in the downtown, the homelessness issue, the cleanliness. All of that was discussed extensively by the business owners and private residents. This should be comprehensive and not just in the downtown.”
“But, we said, there needs to be a public-private partnership,” he stated. “This cannot be just the City of Antioch. This cannot be just the General Fund. This needs to be a collaborative effort.”
“What’s really confusing about the process is that…it explicitly says security services will be used for City-owned properties and parking lots…it will not be to patrol privately-owned property,” District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker stated, asking “Is their focus, City-owned property downtown? If I see somebody breaking into a business, do I ignore it?”
“I think they would report that to the police department,” Cortez responded. “That’s something that would be included in the scope of work.”
“I expected to see a fully drafted Request for Proposal…and that’s not here,” Torres-Walker continued. “In addition to a public-private partnership.”
She then spoke of an overlay district and said, “I know that’s a longer-term strategy.”
“This does involve a bigger discussion,” she continued. “I know the mayor pro tem and I are appointed to the Downtown Standing Committee. What I would request…is that we as a City, we might want to reassess the potential of that standing committee and establish an ad-hoc committee. Is the standing committee still necessary? What would a task force look like? It’s kind of hard to have dialogue and workshop in a standing committee.”
District 4 Councilwoman Monica Wilson then said, “Although there is a list of what the private security will do…then there’s also the expectations of our businesses which don’t align. A lot of this seems to be more of a police department issue.
“This is about public property, not a private business,” she continued. “How are we going to make this work with the expectations of
“It’s a Code Enforcement issue, it’s a Public Works issue…we got into a parking issue and turns out, some of the worst offenders are the business owners,” Freitas stated. “Frankly, one of the parties is the railroad. That is a big issue in the downtown and we seem to ignore it until we handle it until the next time. I think we need to have a broader discussion.”
“I don’t want to dismiss the issue of needing security in downtown, right now,” Torres-Walker added. “It needs to include a larger community voice.”
“I can come back to the next council meeting with an RFP,” Cortez responded.
“One of the other issues that isn’t addressed, necessarily in the current parking lots, at the water treatment plant, we’ve had calls for service…if there are other areas of the city that are having issues,” Mayor Ron Bernal stated.
“This is about one security guard. Is one enough?” he asked. “Not just in downtown.”
“I think we also need to look at the Downtown Specific Plan…I think that would be important,” Bernal added.
“We do want to include the entire city, not just the downtown,” Cortez stated.
“In talking to the chief, I included other parts of town…it should be expanded,” said Bernal.
“We need to hear from Public Works, Code Enforcement…if the hours are correct. I think the way we had it did not work,” said Freitas.
“Moving those around is the best model,” Bernal interjected.
“I thought it was very good for all council members and staff, the chief to hear these dialogues…having that dialogue was very, very helpful,” Freitas stated. “Some things came up that we never hear. I think an ad hoc is better than a steering (he meant standing) committee which has other rules.”
Torres-Walker then asked what about businesses in other parts of Antioch.
“Are security officers armed, are they not armed, do they have lights on their patrol cars?” Bernal asked.
“And what businesses are already paying for private security?” Torres-Walker asked. “They might be in a commercial lot with other private businesses. She then reiterated her proposal for a public-private partnership.
“It started as a focus on the downtown,” Cortez explained. “It turned out to be a bigger issue.”
Cortez will return with a proposed RFP or RFQ for discussion at the Council meeting on Oct. 13th.
There is no single device that will make a vehicle impossible to steal. The best approach is to make your vehicle harder to take and easier to recover.
Lock it, then check it.
Close the windows, lock the doors, take your keys, and make sure the vehicle actually locked before you walk away.
Add a visible deterrent.
A steering-wheel lock may be old-school, but it adds another obstacle and tells a thief your vehicle will take more work.
Protect your key fob.
If your vehicle has keyless entry or push-button start, keep both your primary and spare fobs away from exterior doors and windows at home. Consider a quality signal-blocking pouch or box and test it periodically to make sure it works.
Check your vehicle’s security features.
Review your manufacturer’s app and security settings. Make sure any available location or stolen-vehicle recovery features are activated before you need them.
Give yourself more than one way to find it.
Consider your vehicle’s built-in location service, a dedicated GPS tracker, or a discreet AirTag or similar device as an additional recovery tool. Periodically check tracker battery status.
Create a 30-second vehicle record.
Save a current photo, license plate number, VIN, year, make, model, color, and any distinctive features somewhere you can quickly access from your phone.
Park smart.
Use a garage when possible. Otherwise, park in a well-lit, visible area and remove valuables from sight.
If your vehicle is stolen:
Call police immediately. If a vehicle app, GPS system, AirTag or other tracker shows a location, share that information with the dispatcher or responding officer.
Do not follow the vehicle or attempt to recover it yourself.
Seek public’s help for 54-year-old male, 63-year-old female victims, both possibly homeless
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, CA — The Antioch Police Department (APD) is seeking assistance from the public following two separate and unrelated hit-and-run collisions involving pedestrians on the evening of Saturday, September 12, 2026. Both victims sustained major injuries and were airlifted to local trauma centers.
Incident Overviews
Source: Antioch PD CitizenRIMS Crime Map
• E. 18th Street & Phillips Lane (Case #26-8734): At 6:50 PM, APD Dispatch received a report of a pedestrian down. Officers arrived on scene within three minutes and rendered immediate medical aid to a 54-year-old man suffering severe leg injuries. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District personnel assumed care upon arrival, and the victim was airlifted via helicopter to a trauma center. The driver fled the scene. Witnesses describe the suspect vehicle as a dark gray sedan.
When asked for his city of residence Sgt. Rob Green said, “He is from Antioch and possibly a transient.”
According to the department’s CitizenRIMS Crime Map, the call was closed Saturday at 8:56 PM, the Disposition is listed as Report Taken-Felony and the Incident Number is 2609120132.
• 801 Sunset Drive (Case #26-8737): At 9:57 PM, officers responded to a completely separate and unrelated report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival at 10:00 PM, officers provided initial aid to a 63-year-old woman who suffered major injuries to her arms and legs near the Antioch Napa Auto Parts store. She was subsequently transported via helicopter to a trauma center. The suspect vehicle fled prior to law enforcement arrival, and the APD Traffic Unit responded to conduct an on-scene investigation.
Source: Antioch PD CitizenRIMS Crime Map
According to the CitizenRIMS Crime Map, the call was closed Sunday 9/13/2026 at 11:24 AM, the Disposition is listed as Supplement which means another report was taken, and the Incident Number is 2609120155.
Regarding the other report Green said, “We were told there was possible foul play from a supplemental call and that she is a homeless woman in Antioch. But we have nothing to support the claim foul play was involved. The car came out of nowhere.”
Asked if the second incident is also considered a felony Green said, “Yes, it is.”
Both investigations remain active and ongoing. Anyone who witnessed either incident, has surveillance or dashcam footage from the surrounding areas at these times, or possesses information regarding the fleeing vehicles, is urged to contact Sgt. Green of the Traffic Unit at (925) 779-6864. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to the department.
Both were Liberty High student-athletes; two others injured, including another Liberty student-athlete
UPDATES: No police chase prior to collision; third boy who survived, the driver from Brentwood, identified; online fundraisers for families of the two deceased and survivor’s recovery established
By Lt. Franco Cesar, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, CA – The Antioch Police Department is deeply saddened to report a fatal traffic collision that occurred early Sunday morning, claiming two lives and leaving others injured.
On September 13, 2026, at 12:11 AM, APD Dispatch received a report of a major vehicle collision in the area of Deer Valley Road and Balfour Road. Officers arrived on scene at 12:21 AM and located two vehicles involved: a white BMW and a silver Infiniti.
Tragically, two occupants inside the Infiniti died at the scene. A third individual from the Infiniti sustained injuries and was promptly transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. The driver of the BMW also sustained injuries as a result of the collision.
According to Sgt. Rob Green the two deceased were 17-year-old males from Discovery Bay. According to a report by The Press, they were “Liberty High School student-athletes” and one of the injured was another current Liberty student and athlete from the Brentwood school.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under active investigation by the Antioch Police Department Traffic Unit. Out of respect for the families and loved ones involved, law enforcement is working to confirm the identity of one victim and complete next-of-kin notifications before releasing additional information.
UPDATE 1 (9/14/26): One of the two boys has been identified by his mother. In posts on her Facebook page and the Instagram account for her photography business Monday morning, Sept. 14th, Stephanie Starkenberg-Ferrari shared her son’s name, Dominic Anthony Starkenberg Ferrari, and his birthdate, March 21, 2009, along with his photo.
The victims of the fatal collision have been identified as Dominic Anthony Starkenberg Ferrari (left) and Caden Kyle (right). Sources: (left) Facebook and (right) AngeLink
UPDATE 2 (9/15/26): The other boy was identified in an online fundraiser on AngeLink, as Caden Kyle. That was organized by Lynne Mile on behalf of Chris Kyle and Shannon Boyle. As of Tuesday afternoon, $32,244 of $35,000 Goal had been contributed. In addition, a GoFundMe account has been set up to benefit Starkenberg Ferrari’s family, listed as Stephanie, Gino and Sophia. As of Tuesday evening, $39,548 of the $47,000 goal had been raised.
UPDATE 3 (9/15/26): Not a Police Chase
To dispel one of the rumors on social media that a police chase had occurred prior to the collision, Sgt. Green, “It was not a police chase. The BMW involved, did flee from East Bay Regional Park Police a week before the crash. But there is no indication the driver of the BMW was the one who fled. That car was entered as a felony vehicle on the CHP log. That’s how that rumor started.”
Asked about the driver of the other vehicle with the three boys inside he said, “Neither of the boys who died was the driver. The boy who survived was.”
“That is all we have right now. We are just determining if there was any negligence involved,” Green added.
The third Discovery Bay boy who survived has been identified as James Harper. He was the driver of the car in which his two friends were passengers. Photo: GoFundMe
UPDATE 4 (9/16/26): Third Boy Identified, Online Fundraiser for His Recovery Established
The third boy involved in the fatal collision early Sunday morning, the driver of the Infiniti, has been identified as James Harper. He is from Brentwood according to Sgt. Green. A GoFundMe account has been established by Mateo Morrison to raise funds to support Harper’s recovery. It reads in part, “James is a Liberty student who plays soccer and is active in the FFA” (Future Farmers of America) and “has a long road to recovery in front of him.” As of Wednesday evening, $16,029 of the $20,000 goal had been raised.
As investigators work to piece together the events leading up to the collision, the Antioch Police Department asks anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has surveillance or dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash, to please come forward. If you have any information, please contact Sgt. Green of the Traffic Unit at (925) 779-6864. Anonymous tips may also be submitted directly to the department. Case No.: 26-8743.
Please check back later for any additional updates to this report.
50-year-old Carlos Armando Davenport of Pittsburg was arrested in the Antioch City Hall parking lot on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Photos: Antioch PD
50-year-old Pittsburg man
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Antioch Police Department, yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 3:29 p.m. an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alert notified officers that a reported stolen U-Haul van had entered Antioch.
Officer Molina located the vehicle a short time later in the downtown area and attempted to stop it as it pulled into the City Hall parking lot. The driver got out of the vehicle and ran, leading Officer Molina on a foot pursuit.
Officer Molina caught up with the driver and took him into custody. The stolen vehicle was recovered.
ALPR cameras are one of the tools our officers use to help locate stolen vehicles and identify vehicles associated with criminal activity. In this case, the technology provided the alert, and Officer Molina’s quick response and police work led to the recovery of the vehicle and an arrest.
Another stolen vehicle recovered and another example of technology helping our officers respond quickly when it matters.
Screenshot of incident report on the CitizenRIMS map. Source: Antioch PD
“The van was reported stolen from the Concord U-Haul on Monument on Sept. 8th,” Mellone added and shared the suspect is 50-year-old “Carlos Armando Davenport of Pittsburg born 5/19/1976.”
He is charged with a felony for 148(A)(1) PC resisting arrest and possessing a stolen vehicle,496D(A) PC, for which he could face imprisonment for 16 months or two or three years or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both, or by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.
Thanks to witness info, technology and detective work
Both held on $100,000 bail
By Lt. Michael Mellone, Antioch Police Department
ANTIOCH, Calif. — The Antioch Police Department has arrested two 18-year-old Antioch residents following an investigation into the August 31 robbery of Antioch Jewelers on Wild Horse Road off Hillcrest Avenue.
At approximately 11:00 a.m. on August 31, Antioch Police officers responded to Antioch Jewelers after two masked suspects entered the business. One suspect sprayed the store owner with pepper spray while the second used a hammer to smash a glass jewelry display case. The suspects removed trays of jewelry and fled from the business.
An important break in the case came from witnesses who observed the suspects and their getaway vehicle. One witness was able to obtain the vehicle’s license plate and provide that information to police. That information, combined with investigative work by responding officers and the Antioch Police Department’s automated license plate reader system, helped investigators quickly develop leads associated with the suspect vehicle.
Later that day, officers and detectives located the suspect vehicle parked and unoccupied in Antioch. The vehicle was seized as evidence as detectives continued working to identify those responsible.
The following morning, September 1, Antioch Police detectives continued pursuing leads developed during the investigation and located 18-year-old Adrian Ramel Cortez in Antioch (born 11/22/2007). Detectives conducted surveillance as Cortez traveled through the city before coordinating with uniformed officers to take him into custody near West 4th and K streets.
Photo: Antioch PD
At the time of Cortez’s arrest, officers recovered a significant amount of jewelry from a bag he was carrying. The store owner later identified the recovered jewelry as property taken during the robbery. Officers also discovered a concealed .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun in Cortez’s possession following his arrest.
Detectives continued working the case after the first arrest. Additional investigative efforts led them to identify 18-year-old Zaimarri Tylann Williams of Antioch (born 3/16/2008) as the second suspect. On September 10, Antioch Police detectives served a search warrant at an Antioch residence as part of the continuing robbery investigation. Williams was located during the operation and taken into custody. Detectives also collected additional evidence associated with the investigation.
Cortez and Williams were arrested in connection with the robbery and are accused of violations including robbery (PC 211) and felony vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)).
This investigation highlights the value of community cooperation, technology, and persistent investigative work. The witness who recognized the importance of obtaining the suspect vehicle’s license plate provided officers with a critical piece of information at the very beginning of the investigation. APD’s automated license plate reader system helped detectives build upon that information, and investigators continued developing evidence that led to the identification and arrests of both suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Arturo Becerra at (925) 779-6937 or email abecerra@antiochca.gov.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Case No.: 26-8297
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 145-pound Cortez is non-Hispanic, but also listed as unknown, and is being held in a Custody Alternative Facility on $100,000 bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 16 at 8:30 a.m. in Dep’t. 5 in Martinez.
According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall 160-pound Williams is non-Hispanic, but also listed as Black, and is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility also on $100,000 bail.
