AUBURN -- A Harford man who was caught with 25 stolen catalytic converters in the back seat and trunk of his Hyundai Elantra during a traffic stop pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to fourth-degree felony grand larceny.

Craig Gleason, 31, of 533 Liddington Road, said he helped a friend steal the catalytic converters, worth approximately $115 each, from Pick-N-Pull in Sennett on April 30, 2008.

Gleason said he did not actually enter the business, and that he was involved because he drove his friend and the converters from Pick-N-Pull to a nearby scrap yard. Gleason said his friend paid him $400 for his help.

The converters were discovered by a Cayuga County sheriff's deputy during a traffic stop in Genoa, but they had not been reported stolen at that time, Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann previously said. The deputy took photos of the converters and logged the identification information of Gleason and his friend.

Gleason was arrested several days later when Pick-N-Pull reported the theft.

Cayuga County Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Valdina said he was unaware a case involving Gleason's friend, and no charges were filed in Cayuga County Court.

Catalytic converters are often stolen from cars because they have platinum inside of them, which can be sold to scrap dealers at a high price, Valdina said.

In exchange for a sentence of no harsher than shock probation, Gleason will have to make $2,875 in restitution by Oct. 1.