Crime & Safety
Hebron, OH Theft Probe: $1.2M in Catalyst Material Recovered
Hebron, OH – Approximately $1.2 million worth of stolen catalyst material belonging to an Ohio company has been recovered following a multi state investigation involving the FBI and law enforcement ag
By Erin Vale · 2026-09-30T21:03:21.530Z
Hebron, OH – Approximately $1.2 million worth of stolen catalyst material belonging to an Ohio company has been recovered following a multi state investigation involving the FBI and law enforcement agencies across several states.
According to the Licking County Sheriff ’s Office, the recovered material belonged to Refined Catalyst Solutions in Hebron, southeast of the Columbus metropolitan area.
Investigators said the case began after authorities received a tip from a scrap yard in Bensenville, Illinois, near Chicago. The business reported that a suspect was allegedly attempting to sell material believed to be connected to the theft.
The sheriff’s office then began working with federal investigators and arranged a controlled purchase of the suspected stolen material.
The FBI’s Chicago Field Office conducted the controlled transaction, authorities said. The operation resulted in the recovery of the material and generated additional investigative leads.
Two suspects were subsequently taken into federal custody, according to the sheriff’s office. Their names and the specific federal allegations they may face were not disclosed in Tuesday’s announcement.
The Licking County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation into the original theft remains active and that investigators intend to pursue appropriate criminal charges.
Authorities also did not disclose when the material was originally stolen, how it was transported across state lines or exactly where the recovery occurred.
The sheriff’s office credited cooperation among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for helping move the investigation forward.
The case stretches from Hebron in Licking County, Ohio, to the Chicago area community of Bensenville, illustrating the multi state scope of the investigation.
Any charges filed in connection with the case would be allegations, and those accused are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.