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Gwinnett non-profit targeted by auto thief

Creative Enterprises wants to put a stop to man stealing catalytic converters in the area.

A local non-profit helping to transport disabled adults has become the latest target in a string of auto-part thefts.

Creative Enterprises services clients with special needs by assisting them with employment and driving them to various appointments. Now, the non-profit has no way of transporting clients after a thief drove into their parking lot to saw off the catalytic converters of three company buses.

The buses are also used to transport clients to and from daily activities and outings such as grocery store trips and doctors appointments. The outings are a part of teaching clients how to be self-sufficient.

"We had to cancel some of the outings. We've really had to prioritize the very most important things,"  Leigh McIntosh Executive Director said. 

According to a Gwinnett County police report, a man driving in a silver vehicle, similar to the one spotted at Creative Enterprise, targeted two other commercial trucks at Builder Specialties in Norcross as well.

"It's made us very concern about the ones that we still have," McIntosh said.

McIntosh said their surveillance footage catches the suspect in the act, but the camera was too far to get a good look at his face.

"We might not get our catalytic converters back. They are probably long gone. But we really need to stop him from hurting other people," McIntosh said.  

McIntosh says they keep their site open to the community so they can interact, but now have to reconsider how they keep their buses secured. 

Without a catalytic converter, the buses will make extremely loud noises. McIntosh says it could take up to $2,500 to repair and they are looking for other ways to resolve the problem. 

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