The man police said died while attempting to steal a catalytic converter had been arrested in October for apparently trying to steal that same type of car part.
In October, employees of A&M Towing on Tolland Street found Gary Gaudet, 51, of East Hartford, asleep under a car around 3 a.m. and called police.
Police arrested Gaudet and he admitted to trying to steal the car part, police said at the time, police said.
Gaudet died this week while trying to steal a catalytic converter from a car at Asian Motors, also located on Tolland Street in East Hartford.
It seems the car slipped off a jack and crushed him, police said. Beside Gaudet, police found a hacksaw. Police believe the car fell as Gaudet was trying to remove the catalytic converter, crushing his face and chest. Police believe he died overnight.
