ROSEVILLE, CA - A rash of catalytic converter thefts sparked a Roseville police investigation that ended with the arrest of two women.

Sgt. Cal Walstad said since the beginning of November, thieves have removed more than 70 catalytic converters from cars and trucks in Roseville.

"We've had a lot of catalytic converter thefts. It's directly tied to the cost of precious metals," Walstad explained. "When the cost of precious metals goes up, our thefts go up."

Thieves take the converters loaded with platinum, palladium and rhodium and worth anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or more and turn them into recyclers for as little as $20.

Officers arrested Michele Walden, 45, of Roseville for receiving stolen property and not having a business license.

"We're assuming people were answering her ad on Craigslist," Walstad said. "She was buying catalytic converters and taking them to different recyclers to get money for precious metals."

Earlier this week, the local owners of six La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores in Northern California donated nearly $12,000 worth of beautiful La-Z-Boy furniture to a privately funded home for recently emancipated foster youth in Placer County.  Purchased by a concerned citizen and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteer, “Taylor House” is a six-bedroom, newly remodeled home located in downtown Roseville.  Once furnished, the home will welcome its first young women residents -- all of whom are no longer able to stay in a foster care environment after turning 18 years of age -- within the next few weeks.   

SACRAMENTO, CA - A man who claimed to be a well-known movie producer was arrested in Los Angeles Tuesday morning after allegedly swindling $7 million from the ex-wife of actor Eddie Murphy, according to an indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

READ: Stratos indictment

The indictment does not name Nicole Murphy. However, Murphy sued Troy Stratos in federal court in September 2010 and later dismissed the case.