AUSTINTOWN TWP., Ohio -  Austintown Police have arrested one-half of a team of men who police believe stole a catalytic converter from a truck parked outside a township hotel.

State Troopers have arrested 42-year-old Christopher Beach of Niles on a warrant issued by Austintown Police.

Investigators believe Beach was one of two men who removed a catalytic converter from a truck outside the Home 2 Suites early on the morning of May 24.

According to police, surveillance showed a man get out of a Jeep Cherokee and disappear under the truck while the Jeep driver walked around smoking a cigarette.

Both men later got back into the Jeep and drove away.

The owner of the truck then reported that the converter had been stolen.

After further investigation, police issued a warrant for the arrest of Beach.

It isn’t known if police have identified the second suspect.

Beach was arrested on complicity charges of theft and vandalism.

He’s scheduled to be arraigned on Monday.

The number of converter thefts has been rising in the Valley over recent months due to the valuable metals contained in the devices that are part of a vehicle's exhaust system.