SAN DIEGO -- La Mesa police arrested two people allegedly involved in a series of catalytic converter thefts from cars and trucks, police said.

The man and woman were stopped and arrested on Friday in La Mesa and officers found a heavy-duty cutting tool and one catalytic converter in their possession, the La Mesa Police Department said.

La Mesa police had tracked about 20 such cases across the city over the past few months, with catalytic converters being removed from parked vehicles with metal-cutting tools and then sold as scrap metal.

Police said 32-year-old David Franklin Taylor of San Diego was arrested on charges of attempted grand theft, felony vandalism, conspiracy and violation of parole.

Janette Sue Rosales, 21, was arrested on charges of attempted grand theft, felony vandalism and conspiracy.